The Golden Sparrow on Saturday 16/07/2016

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The secret of Pune’s high success rate in MPSC

Priyanka Chopra’s brother booked

Police raid Mugshot Lounge in Koregaon Park owned by Siddharth Chopra and book him for illegally selling hookah

The public service commission is a stepping stone to a life of privilege and status. Against the backdrop of India’s huge and burgeoning population, this is an avenue that offers an instant entry to a life of respectability and success. No surprise, for the 2,000 vacancies, there are six lakh aspirants annually, of which more than a lakh are from Pune alone. With all its coaching See p08-09 classes, study rooms and libraries, Pune is a thriving hub for MPSC aspirants

The cop who wants Gadchiroli tribals to prosper Police Superintendent Sandip Patil has moved to Satara, but he is still doing all he can to provide for the libraries and study centres he started in the Naxal stronghold of Gadchiroli

BY TUSHAR RUPANAVAR @tusharrupanavar Sandip Patil of the Indian Police Service,who served as Superintendent of Police (SP)for two years and six months in the Naxal-infested Gadchiroli district,was transferred to Satara as Superintendent of Police, on June 18. As he took charge of his new posting as Satara SP, people from various walks of life, greeted Patil with bouquetsetc. But Patil appealed to the

residents of Satara andall the wellwishers to give books and notebooks instated of bouquets of flowers. Th is request resulted in people donating more than 3000 books, which Patil has decided to hand over to the libraries he started in Gadchiroli district during his tenure there as SP. A posting at Gadhchiroli is not the most welcome one for police officers,owing to the Naxal hazard.

ButSandip Patil is the exception,in that he asked the home ministry to give him

a posting in Gadchiroli. He assumed charge as Gadchiroli SP on August 11, 2014,and soon after, he implemented the state government’s Naxal surrender award scheme.

Continued on p2

This ‘Dr’ had unique cure for all pains: Local Anaesthesia Anti-superstition brigade swoops on Shikrapur quack, who ‘cured’ his patients by administering anaesthesia and getting them to perform rituals with local baba

BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma A quack had been practicing in Shikrapur village in Pune district for many years. His modus operandi included administering local anaesthetic to his patients, and then getting them to perform mumbo-jumbo rituals with a local baba, to exorcise the evil spirits causing them physical ailments.

The Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti in Pune had received word about this ‘doctor’ who could cure everything. “We were told that Dr Dnyaneshwar Dere takes the Gods’ help, and thus is the best doctor in the area,” said Dr Yamini Adbe, a social worker and a practicing doctor working at Dehu Road, who was asked by the Samiti to lead the raid on July 6. They were accompanied by the police and the doctor-in-charge of the

area, Dr Kashid.

When the team went there pretending to be patients and their relatives, they were told by the patients waiting that the doctor could cure any pain and that too instantly. “In villages, due to lack of awareness, only when something starts paining do the patients visit the doctor. They are happy when a doctor relieves them of the pain, and they don’t ask many questions,” explained Dr Adbe. When they enquired as to how the doctor alleviates their pain, they explained that he gives injections.

The secret of quick healing was local anaesthesia that the doctor used to inject wherever there was pain. “The pain stops and regular application can also lead to nerve damage. So, most of his ‘regular’ patients would have stopped facing any pain at all, and Continued on p5

See p06

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JULY 16, 2016

PUNE

“We are not going to be at anyone’s mercy. Earlier, we were given MoS. We turned down the offer. We wanted a cabinet rank post. The Sena will not go to anyone’s doorstep.”

- Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena chief

BY ROMIL KOTHARI @romil_kothari The launch of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has not addressed the huge problem of garbage disposal.

Government vehicles are dumping garbage freely and openly into the Mutha river,as the authorities claim to have run out of places to dump the garbage.

Thereis a plot of land near the Mutha river,which has been a garbage dumping ground for the residentsof Shivane and Nanded villages. With the scanty rainfall in the past few years, the banks of the river remained dry. But the plentiful rains this year haveresulted in the river overflowing its banks. As a result, this plot of land has become slushy. The Nanded village sarpanch has ordered that the garbage be dumped into the river.

Rajat Kabade of Pune, who was driving to Nanded to meet a friend, happened to see the dumping of garbage into the river. He clicked pictures and posted them on social networking websites, and the pictures have grabbed attention of the public.

TGS spoke to Nitin Ramdas Dugane, sarpanch of Nanded village about the issue. “We have no other place to dump the garbage. Our dumping ground has been rendered useless by the rain. So we dump it into the river.

Our village is out of Pune Municipal Corporation limits. So we don’t get the facilities the other regions in the city get.

Nanded, Shivane garbage dumped into Mutha river

We have to manage on our own, and that’s what we have done. We do have a plan to set up our own plant and we have also raised funds for the same. But we don’t have the space,” Dugane said.

Nanded has developed over time

and it now has some big housing complexes and high-rise buildings.

It lies between Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.

ThoughNanded is close to Pune,

‘Gold man’ murdered for default of Rs 1.5 lakh Nine persons detained for bludgeoning Datta Phuge, famous for wearing Rs 2 crore gold shirt, to death

BY YOGESH WAGH @YogeshWagh1857 Datta Phuge, 47, famous for wearing Rs 2 crore designed gold shirt and husband of former corporator Seema Phuge from Bhosari area, was bludgeoned to death with boulders and chopper by nine persons at Dighi around 11.30 pm on July 14 (Thursday). The Dighi Police have detained nine persons and state that the prime accused Atul Mohite of Dighi had killed Fuge as the latter owed him Rs 1.5 lakh. The FIR was lodged by the victim’s 21-year-old son Shubham.

According to the FIR filed by Shubham, his father called around 10:30 pm asking him to come to Bharatmata Nagar in Dighi with eight biryanis packets and two cigarette packs. Shubham reached the spot in Hyundai i20 and saw his father being

Chinese media irked with US, Japan P 13

brutally attacked by Atul Mohite and his accomplices with sharp weapon and boulders. Mohite fled the spot after murdering Phuge and the complainant called his mother and relatives.

Phuge was murdered at an open space at Bharatmata Nagar. The victim was hit on the back of his head with a sharp weapon and crushed to death with boulders barely half a km from Dighi Police Chowky. Phuge was a resident of Sheetal Park in Bhosari and ran Vakratund Chitfund and Shubham Finance. According to the police, Mohite came to know the victim through the chit fund business. Mohite had invited Fuge for a personal meet at a friend’s birthday party two days ago. The prime suspect had again called Phuge for the meeting on July 14. The victim’s wife Seema told police that four to five persons had

forcibly picked up Phuge from residence around 9 pm on Thursday.

Shubham told the police that the suspects had attacked his father’s bodyguards in the past. The suspects detained by the police include Atul Mohite, Balli Pathare, Bala Walke, Prem Dholphode, Vishal Pakhre, Shailesh Walke, Babu Shelke, Prem Dholpore and two others who are nephews of Bala Walke.

“Phuge owed Rs 1.5 lakh rupees to Mohite and the financial dispute led to his murder. We have seized sharp weapon from the spot. We have registered offence as per Sections 302 (murder), 143, 147, 148, 149 (rioting) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Arms Act 4 (25) of Bombay Police Act against the suspects,” a police official said.

Phuge was called ‘gold man’ for designing 3.5 kg golden shirt from Ranka Jewellers in 2011. The golden shirt also entered the Guinness Book of World Records. It is alleged that he amassed large money of investors through chit fund business. His wife Seema Phuge is former NCP corporator in Pimpri-Chinchwad area but was disqualified for submitting false caste certificate. Phuge was eyeing for LS candidature from Shirur. yogesh.wagh@goldensparrow.com

the authorities are ignorant of the garbage dumping issue. Pune region Maharashtra Pollution Control BoardDeputy Regional Officer Devidas Koparkarsaid, “I will send sub-regional officers to do a survey of the spot. If it

Nations to widen probe: Panama Papers P 14 Villages around Mutha river have started emptying their garbage trucks in the river. They claim that since their dumping grounds are unusable, they have no option

comes to light that garbage dumping has been going on a large scale for a long time, we will take strict action against the concerned authorities.”

Environmental activist Vivek Velankar said, “The collector and

RAHUL RAUT

contractor are responsible for the garbage dumping, as they fail to inform the higher authorities about the matter and continue to deal with the garbage in the most convenient way possible.” romil.kothari@goldensparrow.com

The cop who wants Gadchiroli tribals to prosper

Continued from p1 This resulted in as many as 95 Naxals from Gadchiroli district laying down their arms. To round up those who had not surrendered, Patil launched operations which resulted in the arrestsof 26 Naxals. To rehabilitate the Naxals,he started various schemes. He opened study rooms and libraries for tribal children in Gadchiroli district, and started Maharashtra tours for tribal youth, to bring them intothe mainstream. Patil personally guided and taught tribal students who were preparing for competitive examinations.

Talking to TGS, Satara SP Sandip Patil said, “During my tenure as Gadchiroli SP,Director General of Police Pravin Dixit appealed to the police department to start libraries in remote areas. We started a library in the jungle of Gadchiroli,but as it was in a remote location far from the tribal villages,the tribal youth hesitated or feared comingto the police library.

We therefore, shifted the library tothe tribal village of Burgi in Etapalli tehsil of Gadchiroli district.We assured the village youth that the library was for them, so that they could study there. We also offered the youthcareer guidance, and started counselling and teaching

the youth. Over time, the tribal youth started coming to the libraries to study regularly. We informed our seniors about the positive response to the library from tribal youth, who even wished to join the mainstream, and enrol in the police force. Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis visited the village Burgi library.

Heartened by the positive response,the police department encouraged us to start more libraries in Gadchiroli district. When I left Gadchiroli, we had started 800 study centres. These study centresneed books in large numbers, which is why I appealed to the people

of Satara, while taking charge as Satara SP,notto give me flower bouquets, but to give books for the Gadchiroli study centres. We have received more than 3000 books from the citizens of Satara, and I am personally touched by the helpful nature and overwhelming response from the people of Satara.

I have sent the 3000 books to the Gadchiroli study centres. Some people have also donated notebooks which we have sent to schools in Gadchiroli. More than 2000 notebooks have been sent to these schools in Gadchiroli.” tushar.rupanavar@goldensparrow.com

Cops’ wives block road over poor water supply

Residents say they have been receiving non-potable water for the past 15 days

BY YOGESH WAGH @YogeshWagh1857

Shortage of drinking water supply left women of police personnel staying at Shivaji Nagar Police Line to block the traffic on the busy road in front of their colony for half an hour on July 15 (Friday) in protest.

The Shivaji Nagar area near Modern College, including the police lines, has been facing severe water shortages for the past 15 days. “The supply for 30 minutes is so low that it is not even sufficient to fill half a drum,” said Sangeeta Jadhav, wife of a constable who lives at the police line.

However, that is not the only problem.

“The water supplied is non-potable, smells and has a bad taste. It even gets mossy if stored for long,” said Prafulla Lad, wife of another policeman.

The women, along with several others in the neighbourhood, led

Due to acute scarcity of water residents of Shivajinagar police line are forced to store water in every pot and pan available. On Friday, wives of the law enforcers took matters in their hands and staged a protest

by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Corporator Raju Patil undertook a Rasta Roko Andolan. They formed human chains and blocked the road amidst heavy sloganeering. The Shivaji Nagar Police

Line, one of the oldest structures in the city and houses nearly 100 families, is a dilapidated building ignored by the Pune Municipal Corporation and police department. It is indeed ironic that wives

of policemen who are the up-keepers of law and order had to take matters in their own hand. “We have gone to the Police Headquarters a number of times with our grievances. However, they have done

nothing for us. So, we had to take to the streets,” said Rashmi Kadam, wife of a constable.

The road protest that began around 10 am went on for 20 minutes. The protestors acquiesced only after the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) authorities assured of regular water supply in a couple of days.

PMC Water Department Head VG Kulkarni denied that the water situation was severe. “The water supply is not obstructed for the past 15 days. It is just a day’s issue. Day before yesterday, there had been some technical issues in the pipeline which we have solved,” he said. yogesh.wagh@goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JULY 16, 2016

PUNE

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JULY 16, 2016

PUNE

“MNGL has to work hard to spread the eco-friendly fuel network across the city. Pune is a heritage city and has immense potential for promoting the eco-friendly fuel.”

—Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Petroleum

P10

The boy who brought MIT to its knees Shubham Shete from Latur raised his voice against teachers who shirk their job, and as a result the authorities turned vindictive and failed him in the practicals

BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma

The Maharashtra Institute of Technology was almost brought to a standstill on Tuesday. Protesting students, backed by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, sloganeered against the institute, especially its engineering college, exposing its dirty underbelly. The reason for this expression of outrage was thatthe plight of Shubham Shete, one of their classmates. Four days later, however, nothing has changed, as the college hasn’t yet forwarded their response and Shubham’s letter to the vice chancellor of Pune University, nor have they taken any action.

Shubham Shete is a regular 22-year-old engineering student of the Electronics and Telecommunication branch. However, he is not as carefree as most of his peers. Hailing from Latur, a region reeling under a severe of water, he has been raised by his mother for the most part.

“My grandfather and uncle have helped us tremendously. However, it is my mother who did everything she could to fulfill all our needs,” he said.

He has a younger sister, who lives in the village.

Getting admission to a city-based college, that too, a renowned one like MIT, has been a dream come true for the youngster. But not all went as planned. “I realised that not all teachers are actually qualified to teach us. The divide between a city based student and a rural student like me was also huge,” he said. However, for him, it was the only chance he had had to fulfill all the wishes his family ever had. “I am the elder child.

Like everyone, even I wanted to finish my course and get a decent paying job,” he said.

Shubham had always been a good student in school.

He passed his Secondary School exam with distinction.

“I have never failed in a single subject till now. Even in college, my marks were decent enough,” he said. His friends, however, think he is too modest. According to them, he is known to be a good student. His aggregate percentage, despite failing in one subject, is 69 per cent,

teachers who actually don’t teach,” he said.

Shubham raised his voice against this unjust practice as he had to forsake campus selections simply because of the practical marks. “Without passing in practical, I wouldn’t get a degree. Without a degree, I can’t get employed. So what is the purpose of my education?” he asked emotionally. “I decided to take this extreme step because I had done everything else. I had knocked on all doors, my uncle had tried everything. We were both mistreated and even thrown out of offices. They used to call me ‘yeda’,” he added.

with distinctions in several subjects.

“I’d gone to Professor Muley and complained about a teacher who didn’t use to teach us at all. I was also very vocal to professors in the class and used to call them out if they tried to bully me. I am from a rural background but I am no less than the others and thus deserve the same treatment,” he said. He alleges this was the reason he was detained in the practical subject.

“In this college, practicals are treated as a weapon against students. So many have been victims of this.

One of my friends even committed suicide. Another has been facing this issue for the past three years. All because they decided to voice their opinions about

Rajasthanis can now rate their police stations

Sunny Li-Ion !

ABOUT THE PROTEST On July 12, around 50 students and ABVP members protested at the MIT compound. The protest was against the unjust practices of the college authorities, mostly the continuous detainment of Shubham Shete for the past three semesters in a practical subject, allegedly a vengeful act against the student as he had complained about the teachers. The protesters demanded a fair hearing for Shubham and action against the teachers involved in detaining him, along with apologies from the authorities, including Mangesh Karad, owner of MIT. As the protest grew, the authorities had to intervene. Rahul Karad, the son of Mangesh Karad along with the principal of MIT College of Engineering apologised to Shubham publicly and even assured him of quick action on his complaint.

The authorities, who had been adamant that the marks were not a pre-planned method of vengeance, changed their stand as the protest grew. Rahul Karad, said, “We apologise for the treatment meted out to the young lad. We are still looking into the matter and a thorough probe will be conducted in the matter.” To the protesters, he said, “I understand that you’ve been hurt. But please understand that we all belong to the same family and we have to keep up its name.” The authorities, including the faculty, refused to comment later and the HoD was unavailable for comment. gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com

Inquiry into botched surgery at YCMH

P12

Road block at Patil Nagar irks residents

Patil Nagar residents face daily ordeal after builder blocked the road leading to their homes three years ago, and PCMC promises have not materialised

BY VICKY PATHARE @VickyPathare2 Thirty families living at Patil Nagar, Chikhali have been facing a daily ordeal for the past Three years. The road leading to their houses has been blocked by the builder who owns the land. Since they do not have access to the road, walking is the only option they have left with to reach their homes. They are all legal residents of the area, but the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has turned a blind eye to their existence, and has not provided them with an alternative.

Residents of Patil Nagar, survey number 1646/47/48, have been living at the address for three decades. They have been running from pillar to post at the PCMC office for the last three years, after the road leading to their homes was blocked by the builder who owns the land. Earlier, the same builder had closed another road, in the year 2009 which was used by the residents to commute, stating the same reason of ownership.

“After writing as many as 48 applications to the PCMC to look into the matter, the municipal corporation has not bothered about it, which has forced the residents to undertake a hunger strike at the Central Bureau of Investigation office, Akurdi on May 30, 2016, after which the PCMC Municipal Commissioner heard our plea for the first time,” said Ramdas Kendale, on behalf of the residents.

PCMC Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare visited Patil Nagar on June 4, 2016 and after assessing the situation, assured the residents that a ten-foot tar road along with retaining wall would be

provided. “Waghmare assured that the work would be completed within eight days, but even after one month it has not been done,” said Kendale.

Another resident of Patil Nagar, on condition of anonymity, said, “PCMC is least bothered about us. Even though more than 40 applications were sent to PCMC, Rajiv Jadhav, Commissioner of PCMC, at that time didn’t even respond to solve our problem. We all pay property tax, water bill, MSEB bill. If PCMC is not bothered about us, then why are they collecting taxes from us?”

Satish Ingle, Executive Engineer, PCMC, under whose work jurisdiction Patil Nagar falls, agreed that there was a delay in the road to be constructed.

“PCMC could not construct the road as the work is carried out by private contractors and tenders allotted towards the same had expired. As the term of the tender was completed, it indirectly resulted in the delay of road construction work,” said Ingle.

PCMC on Thursday allotted fresh tenders for construction of roads, and the road at Patil Nagar will be constructed within eight days, assured Ingle.

“Initially a crushed stone or angular rock road will be made, which will be developed into a tar road. This road will be heading from the main road (Ram Mandir) to the houses of these residents. The road will be 250 metres in length and five metres in width,” he said.

Interestingly, some of the land on which the road will be constructed is privately owned, which can be hurdle to the PCMC while constructing the road. vicky.pathare@goldensparrow.com

PCMC commissioner launches departmental inquiry against six YCMH staffers over the botched varicose veins surgery that forced the amputation of Shirur farmer’s leg

BY DNYANESHWAR BHONDE @dnyanesh1

Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) commissioner Rajiv Jadhav has launched a departmental inquiry against six persons, including a medical superintendent, a sister and two staff nurses attached to the Yashwant Chavan Memorial Hospital (YCMH) in Pimpri, for violating the Maharashtra Civil Services (conduct) 1979 (rule 3). They were held responsible for negligence during a varicose veins surgery on 32-year-old Balasaheb Haribhau Dendge in December 2015.

The departmental inquiry has been launched against YCMH superintendent Dr Manoj Deshmukh, surgeon Dr Sanjay Padale, anaesthetist Dr Rajesh Gore, sister in-charge Satwaraj Hederina, and staff nurses Varsha Raut and Jayashree Kumbhar.

It is being conducted by an inquiring officer who is a retired district judge.

Dendge of Gotimala in Shirur

taluka, lost his right leg when the doctors operating on him for varicose veins accidentally severed the main artery. The operating surgeon, Dr Manan Singh and his team however, did not inform Dendge’s family about the accident during surgery. Dendge’s right leg developed gangrene and his leg was amputated above the knee.

Dendge’s sister Seema Pawar and wife Sonali had made a formal complaint to the PCMC commissioner Rajiv Jadhav and health chief Dr Anil Roy. Jadhav asked the B J Medical College dean to institute an expert doctors committee and investigate the matter, on February 22, 2016. PCMC terminated the service of Dr Manan Singh on finding him guilty, and also recommended to Medical Council of India (MCI) to cancel his registration.

The expert doctors committee from BJ Medical College, including medical superintendent Dr Ajay Taware, medicine department in-charge Dr D B Kadam, head of the forensic science

Dr S B Punpale, a surgeon and assistant professor, submitted their opinion to the PCMC. The opinion stated, “Balasaheb Dendge operated for varicose veins of right side lower limb. Operating surgeon Dr Manan Singh is responsible for the complications. Improper techniques seem to be the cause of the injury caused during the surgery, indicate gross negligence. Records fail to show any anatomical aberration responsible for this injury. In this situation, this is a case of gross incompetency and negligence on the part of Dr Manan Singh.”

“I have come to the decision that the doctors, nurses and sisters have caused sheer negligence and violated the duty towards the patient’s service. It is violation of Maharashtra Civil Services (conduct), 1979, so I am initiating the departmental inquiry as per section 56 (1) of Maharashtra Corporation act and Maharashtra Civil Services (discipline and appeal) Rule 1979 (8),” said the order letter issued by commissioner. dnyaneshwar.bhonde@goldensparrow.com

Shortage of stationery stalls printing of RC books

Printing of 52,000 RC books is pending with the RTP, which aims to clear the backlog within two to three weeks

BY SUSHANT RANJAN @sushantranjan

Mahesh Sonawane, 21, of Pashan, is an engineering student who has been making the rounds of the post office and Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) for six months, for a Registration Certificate (RC) book.

He is not the only one, as the printing of more than 52,000 RC books is pending with the RTO. RTO has started printing RC books for vehicles owners. It wishes to speed up the process of issuing paper

RC, which was at a standstill for more than six months, as pre-printed paper RCs were out of stock. The current ‘RC’ printing is MU series and current series is going ‘NF’.

Sonawane told TGS, “I have been waiting for my RC book for over six months. I have been making rounds of the post office and RTO for four months. I waste three to four hours for this, and as a result my studies are suffering.”

The RC is an important document that vehicle owner must carry while driving, as it proves that the vehicle has been registered by the registering authority of the government.

According to RTO, each series has 9999 registrations. MU, MY, NC, ND and NF series is for scooter and motor bike registrations. MW and NE series is for private four-wheelers. MV series is for heavy vehicles and NB series is for taxis.

A senior RTO official said that the bike series MU, MY, NC and ND have already crossed the 9999 mark and NF series has reached nearly 6000.

Vivek Ketkar, who recently bought a car and is driving without RC, has been fined by the traffic police. He said, “I have not received my RC yet and I paid fine to the traffic police unnecessarily.”

“More than 36,000 scooters and motor bikes series of RC books is still pending for printing. The private series MW has already reached the 9999 mark and NE series is reaching 4000 which will be complete next week.

More than 52,000 RC books are still to be printed, and including heavy vehicles, taxis, autorickshaws and tempos, it will reach 55,000.”

Regional Transport Officer Jitendra Patil said that RTO is trying to complete the pending RC book printing soon.

“Last two-three months we had shortage of stationery. Now we have everything and printing is underway.

Pune RTO is set to clear the backlog of pending RCs within the next 15 to 21 days,” he said.

NEW RC PAPER MAKES MATTERS WORSE The transport department of Maharashtra government had decided to take back the smart card and issue the RC to vehicles owners. Sources from RTO said that the quality of new RC paper is not better than the previous one.

“The previous RC book was thicker than the recent one. The earlier one was easy to print. Now it is taking too much time. While printing, sometimes the paper gets stuck in the machine, making our job much harder,” sources said. sushant.ranjan@goldensparrow.com

Waiting and more waiting for vehicle owners as they await the issuance of the RC books

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JULY 16, 2016

Drink water to curb appetite

“Most farmers in and around villages in Pimpri Chinchwad send their produce to Vashi, which is Asia’s biggest agriculture produce market committee. PCMC can help farmers by allotting them space at its markets.”

— Laxman Jagtap, MLA

P11

PMPML’s broken window panes are a pain in the rains The monsoons are not a good time for PMPML commuters, who have to cope with broken window panes, ill-maintained seats and lots more

BY SUSHANT RANJAN @sushantranjan Pune has had incessant rains over the past two weeks. The thousands of citizens who use Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) buses to commute every day, are suffering due to the wet weather, as rain water keeps seeping in through the PMPML bus windows that have broken panes or none at all. The PMPML has received 35 complaints regarding broken window panes in the past month.

Engineering student Vikas Mohan Zende, 23, from Solapur commutes

by PMPML buses daily. He was on a Pune Station to Kothrud bus packed with commuters, and every window pane on the bus was broken, and the rain was pouring in from all sides.

The passengers were trying to keep from getting wet but to no avail. He told TGS, “I have been travelling

by PMPML buses since 2014. The condition of the buses is yet to improve.

Rain water comes through the windows and drenches the passengers.”

Chandan Dharunkar, 21, commutes regularly from Nigdi to Katraj for the past five years. He said, “PMPML buses will never improve.

The buses are in really bad condition.”

PMPML chief engineer Sunil Burase said, “There was a massive load on PMPML. Some of the buses may have broken down due to the continuous shift in schedule and the extra running time. To maintain the buses, PMPML needs proper infrastructure, equipment and manpower. Drivers and mechanics don’t get spare parts on time, and in the absence of spare parts, buses remain off the road for over a week.”

According to the complaints department, most complaints

Principal health secretary visit leaves kids famished Authorities cite ‘miscommunication’ as children suffering from various ailments were brought in buses to Aundh Hospital-based District Early Intervention Centre to impress the official dignitary

BY DNYANESHWAR BHONDE @dnyanesh1 The long-awaited and long-pending visit of Principal Secretary (Public Health) Dr Sujata Saunik to Aundh Hospital-based District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) on June 15 (Thursday) will be remembered by patient children and their parents for a long while. The official visit left these families who belong to economically weaker section deprived of their daily ration of food. Hundreds of children along with their parents remained hungry for the entire day as the administration was busy handling the official dignitary’s event. As per the directive, children and their parents should be provided with food and travelling allowance on the day they visit DEIC, but it was not followed

on Thursday. Saunik’s inspection visit was due since the centre started functioning in April this year. Even as about 20 to 30 children visit the centre every day, the authorities had arranged for around 120 children who were brought in four vehicles from nearby districts through Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) teams. And all were left hungry and dejected.

DEIC centre is an integral care for 0-14 years’ age group children, suffering from ailments, including deficiencies, birth defects, development delay, cerebral palsy and autism. The centre provides collective treatment like occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychological testing, counselling and special education by specialists like paediatrician, medical officer, orthopaedic, paediatric, dentist, audiologist and speech therapist. Most of the children are referred to the centre through Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) teams.

Some of the parents who were picked up were not told about their destination. “I was not told that they are going to take us to Aundh Hospitalbased DEIC centre for treatment. I would have carried food if I knew about this visit,” said Santosh Takalkar, who had come from Dhore Bhamburwadi village from Rajgurunagar (Chakan) with his nine-year-old daughter

(L to R) Dnyaneshwar Kohinkar, his son Kunal, Samiksha Takalkar & Santosh Takalkar

Samiksha. Samiksha is suffering from skin problem and Santosh had brought her to DEIC centre for treatment. “We both are hungry since morning and it is 3 pm now. Nobody from the hospital has even inquired about us or others like us,” Santosh said.

Dnyaneshwar Kohinkar, father of six-year-old Kunal from Rajgurunagar in Chakan, searched the entire hospital campus for any snack centre in vain.

“The snack centres that run at various spots around the hospital premises have ‘vanished’ because of the principal secretary visit. I was brought here along with my son at 10 am with the promise to get my son treated for his speech problem. But now Kunal is asking for food and doctors have postponed the medical check-up to next month,” said Kohinkar, who finally had to come out of the hospital to buy a Vada Pav for his child and left for home from the centre around 5 pm in the vehicle arranged by the health department.

The scene at the centre was distressing with children begging for food from their parents and doctors and authorities enjoying food arranged for them for the official visit day. A similar case happened last year also when an epilepsy camp organised by the authorities left many children hungry even as visiting senior health officers were well taken care of.

Speaking to TGS, a RBSK doctor said, “The situation was so bad that some children were seen eating banana skins picked from dust bins. We collected Rs 100 from every doctor present at the event and arranged food for starving children.”

Refusing to comment on the event that left many children resort to begging, Saunik said that the DEIC centre is the fi rst full function centre of Maharashtra and eight more centres will come in the state soon. DEIC manager Amruta Wagh said that food was not provided to children and parents because of miscommunication between doctors and parents.

“The parents should have been told to bring their own food. We are now giving tea and biscuits to children from the nearby canteen. Parents can also bring their own food and have it at our pantry.” dnyaneshwar.bhonde@goldensparrow.com

regarding windows, doors and seats come from the activists. “The queries we receive from commuters are forwarded to the concerned authority.

When a problem is solved, we immediately call or send a message to the complainant. Most complaints are from activists. We always try to sort out their problems,” he said.

The engineering department recently received 35 complaints over broken windows. There were 48 complaints it received from the complaints department.

PMPML Public Relations Officer Subhash Gaikwad said, “We have had non-stop rains in Pune for the past few days. The engineering department is continuing to maintain the buses.”

RTI activist and PMPML Pravasi Manch founder member Jugal Rathi said, “The authorities are not taking it seriously. The windows, doors and seats are not maintained by the department. Commuters are facing problems every day. We have had heavy rains in the past few days. We keep reminding them to maintain the buses. The only answer they have is shortage of manpower and money.”

PMPML currently does not have a Chief Managing Director. There have been ten bosses in the last eight years. The constant change at the helm reflects badly on the state of the public transport utility, which caters to the needs of 60 lakh people of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, Rathi said. sushant.ranjan@goldensparrow.com

PUNE

Indian-origin doctor died as he fell asleep behind wheel P13

This ‘Dr’ had unique cure for all pains: Local Anaesthesia Continued from p1 would have succumbed, unknowingly, to partial paralysis,” explained Adbe.

Dere was so enthusiastic about giving injections that he gave their teammate who was posing as a patient two injections before they could intervene.

Moreover, this ayurvedic doctor did not just trust the injections of local anesthesia, but was also taking the help of the paranormal world. “He used to say that the patients were under the evil eye as they were gripped by a demon,” said Dr Adbe. “Apparently, a pregnant lady had died in the area and he used to say that her soul had captured them. He used to advice them that they should go to the cremation ground and do specific rituals with the help of a local baba,” she said.

Dere used to work as a ward boy in the KEM Hospital, Pune. His wife was doing an auxiliary nursing midwifery

course there. The couple returned to their village after her course was complete, and set up a private clinic there. His clinic walls have three framed certificates.

The certificates from ‘Natural Medical Council of Maharashtra’ proclaim that a degree of Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medical Science (BAMS) have been awarded to Dere. However, nothing ayurvedic was found in his clinic. Cartons full of saline bottles, disposable injections and other drugs were lying all around in his clinic.

“We found huge amounts of schedule H drugs which are sold on the prescription of a registered medical degree holder.

The receipts were seized and handed over to the food and drugs department who will conduct further examinations,” said Adbe.

An FIR was filed on the same day at the Shikrapur Police station. Dere was arrested and remanded to police custody. gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com

The heap of used syringes and bottles at Dere’s clinic

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THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JULY 16, 2016

PUNE

“I have been following up the public toilet issue with Kumar for quite some time but the civic administration is not serious about improving the dilapidated toilets. The Nationalist Congress Party has raised this issue with the commissioner but he has been neglecting it.”

— Vandana Chavan, Member of Parliament

4-yr-old suffering from Osteopetrosis Inbreeding may be the cause for Osteopetrosis, for which doctors have prescribed bone marrow transplants

BY DNYANESHWAR BHONDE @dnyanesh1 Four-year-old Ria Sharanappa Khyale, of Kharabwadi, Chakan, is suffering from the Osteopetrosis, a rare and inherited disorder,where bone modelling and remodelling are impaired in a child. The disease, which is also known as ‘marble stone disease’, makes bones abnormally dense and prone to breakage (fracture). Ria was identified with the disease a year ago, and her father Sharanapppa, who is press operator in Matrix company at

Mhalunge (Chakan), sought medical help from doctors at DY Patil Hospital.

Sharanappa had come to DEIC centre on Thursday to avail of medical help from RBSK doctor Pranali Vetal.

“It is one of the rarest of diseases.The cause of it can be marriage between close relatives. The government should make society aware of the consequences of marriages between close relatives, toavoid Osteopetrosis,” said Dr Vetal.

Ria was unable to walk, her eyesight was affected, and she had cough and cold.Her father took Ria to the DY Patil Hospital in Pimpri, where she was diagnosed with Osteopetrosis, a year ago. The DY Patil Hospital doctors prescribed bone marrow transplants for Ria, which cost around Rs 10 lakh.

“I am worried as I earn only Rs 9000 per month,on which I support my family. I have no idea how I am going to raise the money for the bone marrow transplants. I am hoping that generous people from society will help me,” said Sharanappa.

Sharanappa hails from Solapur district, and he is married to his sister’s daughter, as per the custom in their community. The couple also had a girl who was born mentally retarded, and died after six months. Now that Ria is suffering from the rare disease, Sharanappa is wary of having any more children,if they are going to be afflicted with health issues. dnyaneshwar.bhonde@goldensparrow.com

Priyanka Chopra’s brother booked

Police raid Mugshot Lounge in Koregaon Park owned by Siddharth Chopra and book him for illegally selling hookah Late on Wednesday, July 13 the Anti Extortion Cell of Pune police raided The Mugshot Lounge in Koregaon Park, owned by Siddharth Ashok Chopra, the brother of actor Priyanka Chopra. After the raid, the cops booked Chopra and his manager under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003 for allegedly serving hookah.

DCP (Crime) P R Patil said that the police team found that the bar was selling hookahs, which is prohibited by the law. The police seized 16 items required for smoking hookah, and 10 flavours of tobacco, worth Rs 26,000.

Bar owner Siddharth Chopra, 26 resident of Versova, Mumbai, and manager of the bar, Prakash Tuljaram Chaudhury, 24, resident of Katraj Kondhwa Road, Pune, were booked under sections 4 and 21 of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003.

They not only possessed hookah tobacco but were selling them, both prohibited by the law.

Police Inspector Rajendra Kadam of Anti Extortion Cell told TGS that along with the bar owner and manager, 16 customers present in the bar premises who were consuming the hookah tobacco were also booked, and necessary action will be taken against them.

Cops were yet to make any arrests at the time of going to press.

Rules stressed for NSG membership P 13

Traders selling inferior agro products face legal action

Zilla Parishad finally wakes up to sale of inferior farm inputs

BY VICKY PATHARE @Vickypathare2

Department of Agriculture and Pune District Zilla Parishads have initiated action against traders and suppliers who sell substandard seeds, fertilizers and insecticides. Sufficient rainfall in the last week of June and first two weeks of July has boosted demand for these agricultural inputs in the state, and sale of substandard seeds and fertilizers has cropped up to fill the gap between demand and supply.

The preventive steps taken by the state authorities have helped check the sale of substandard seeds and fertilizer in the district during monsoon and avoid artificial shortage and black marketing of seeds. Several quality control monitoring squads are appointed and deployed at district and

taluka level to conduct raids and take legal action against dealers.

“For the first time we have penalised a trader. We have slapped a criminal offence against Nirmala Seeds at Pachora in Jalgaon under relevant sections for selling insecticide without licences. The offender was found guilty and penalised. We

also seized his stock of insecticides amounting to Rs 51 lakh,” said, Sunil Khairnar, Agriculture Development Officer, Zilla Parishad, Pune.

The inspection squads visited 555 (seeds), 592 (fertilizers) and 492 (insecticides) dealers in the district.

Samples were randomly picked from 277 (seeds), 114 (fertilizers) and 25

(insecticides) dealers for quality check at departmental laboratories. The tests found inferior and substandard agricultural supplies at 42 (seeds), 15 (fertilizers) and 28 (insecticides) vendors in the district and directed immediate stop sale to avoid losses to farmers. Licence of two fertilizer dealers were suspended for not following the ‘Fertilizer Control Order, 1985’. In Pune district, licences of 21 (seeds), 25 (fertilizers) and 17 (insecticides) vendors were suspended for delay in renewal of licences.

“Quality inspectors visit shop selling seeds and fertiliser and check the samples. Those samples that are found substandard are sent to laboratory for verification and the report is submitted to zilla panchayat. Our aim is to not let any farmer suffer crop loss because of poor seeds, fertilizer and insecticide.

We had received complaints from Junnar taluka farmers two years ago that they incurred heavy loss due to usage of substandard seeds and fertilizer,” he added. vicky.pathare@goldensparrow.com

Biogas plant leaves neighbourhood in stinking opposition

Wadgaon Sheri residents complain of foul smell emanating from plant

TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly Residents of Sainathnagar in Wadgaon Sheri are scouting for new homes in nearby localities. Hundreds of families residing at Ganga Sarovar, Lotus Arena and Altis Drone housing societies and Sainathnagar locality are complaining of stench, gas emanating from the biogas plant set up by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in their area.

PMC deny residents allegation that it is planning to acquire more land for biogas expansion project but admit that they can’t help reduce foul smell generated by the plant as it is following all the norms laid to run such a plant.

PMC has set up 19 biogas plants across the city with each plant having the capacity to process five tonne wet garbage and generate methane gas used to power street lights of respective areas. The biogas plant at Sainathnagar was set up by PMC Solid Waste Management Department four years ago to ease the garbage burden. But the plant is too close to the residential areas. Waste food generated by hotels, houses and biodegradable garbage is brought here by PMC vehicles daily.

“The rotten garbage is openly dumped in the plant leading to stink permeating the entire area.

Our persistent complaints to local

corporator Sachin Bhagat and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Jagdish Mulik have fallen on deaf ears.

Now they have acquired more area to expand the plant,” said Vishal Gore, a local activist.

The occupants of 90 flats at Ganga Sarovar Society are the worst affected because of its close proximity to the biogas plant. Homemaker Rupali Acharekar and a resident of the society

said that they were ‘fooled’ by PMC with the promise to build a park in the area. “When we had opposed to the construction of the plant, we were told that they are going to construct a park but the plant was set up. Now we are living in stink,” she said.

Another resident Preeti Agrawal said, “I am living on the society’s fourth floor for the past last seven years. Our children vomit most of the time while

going to school due to the foul smell.

I think the gas leakage and rotten open food have left the children and elders suffer from asthma, sugar and blood pressure.” Her neighbour Meena Reddy also state the same problems.

“We have stopped using the open ground because we have to face unbearable odour and mosquitoes bites whenever we move out. You can find the open ground empty now,” said Santosh Dudhe, a resident of the Sainathnagar locality.

PMC Joint Commissioner and Solid Waste Management Chief Suresh Jagtap said, “There are 19 biogas plants spread across the city and functioning to full capacity. The waste normally generates the odour but we can’t stop it even if the entire plant is covered with tin plates. We can’t help it as we set up filters and follow the regular spraying to reduce the smell.

We do not have any plans to expand the plant.”

PMC engineer Umesh Shidruk said that the biogas plant at Wadgaon Sheri follow all agreed standards. “The plant is run by JK Engineering. We ensure that no gas leakage happens.

The plant generates 300 cubic metre methane gas per day and produce 400 kilo hour’s electricity used to power streetlights in the respective area.” tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

BJMC resident doctors left in the lurch over stipend

BJ Medical Government College, Pune resident doctors will not get their pending stipends as there are no vacancies for resident doctors at the hospital

BY VICKY PATHARE @Vickypathare2 When most of the resident doctors pursuing final year post graduate and post graduate diploma courses at 16 government run medical colleges and three municipal corporation run medical colleges in the state have received their pending stipends for three months, the resident doctors of Byramjee Jeejeebhoy (BJ) Government Medical College, Pune have not received their pending stipends.

These students will not be given any pending stipend as there is no vacancy left at the hospital for the resident doctors, said officials from the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER).

As many as140 resident doctors from BJ Medical Government College pursuing final year post graduate, Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master of Surgery (MS) of this year’s batch are facing hardships, as their stipends for three months (May-June and July 2016) have

been pending . The Director of Medical Education and Research had recently cleared the pending stipend of batches from 13 colleges like KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Indira Gandhi Government Medical College (IGMC), Nagpur, IGMC Kolhapur, IGMC Solapur, J.J Hospital Mumbai, excluding BJ Medical Government College, Pune.

The 36 months curriculum for post graduate courses like Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master of Surgery (MS), and 26 months Diploma in July 2013 commenced in September 2013 owing to the delay in implementing the first ever National Eligibility and entrance Test (NEET). The NEET was announced by the Government of India and was held for the first time on May 5, 2013 across India for students seeking admissions to undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

The admission procedure had taken three months extra and the curriculum started in September instead of July.

DMER Director Dr Pravin Shingare

said, “The DMER does not have any budget provision for paying the pending stipend of the resident doctors ongoing batch from the state, but we have, however, managed to pay stipend of most of the colleges by appointing them. The doctors of the BJ Medical Government College have no hopes to be given the stipend as there is no post vacant at the hospital. As the posts at the BJ Government College are already full, I am helpless and can’t do anything for them.

“Most of the medical colleges in the state had vacancy for the post but don’t know why Pune BJ College does not have any. It’s a noble profession and they can work for the society and monetary remuneration should be given secondary importance,” he said.

Central MARD president Dr Sagar Mundada, said, “The resident doctors in Pune have not received stipend since May. Most of these doctors are in their late twenties or even early thirties and have financial family responsibilities. Keeping

them deprived from stipend is wrong.

“In spite of many requests, we have been only given assurances till now. We do not want to resort to extreme measures because the patients may suffer, but the authorities must not turn a blind eye to our genuine rights,” said Dr Mundada.

BJ Medical Government College deputy dean Dr Tambe said, “We have sent the details of budget for the amount to be allocated towards the stipends of the students. No response has yet been received from the DMER office till date.

We have also spoken to some of the deans of different residential medical colleges regarding the issue. Most of them haven’t received the stipend yet.

“Currently there is no vacancy at the medical colleges for the resident doctors and fresh appointments are yet to be given. The college authority is not responsible for the stipend of the students and even are helpless to provide any aid to these students,” he said. vicky.pathare@goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JULY 16, 2016

“People like us need to change our perception towards transgenders.

The kind of beautiful comments people have written on our YouTube below our songs shows that there has been a change.”

— Shameer Tandon, Curator, 6 Pack Band

“There has to be an overall awareness against terrorism and we need to take everyone into confidence. To blame one particular community alone is not fair.”

— Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala Chief Minister

Shopping bags made from old saris an ideal alternative

Youths distribute free paper bags with social message

BY TUSHAR RUPANAVAR @tusharrupanavar

An initiative of two Punekars, the concept is fast catching up

BY VICKY PATHARE @Vickypathare2

About 15,000 tonnes of plastic waste is generated daily in India, of which only 9,000 tonnes is collected. Th is means that every year, a whopping 20 lakh tonnes of plastic garbage accumulates in the country.

Plastic bags discarded and strewn all over are a common sight in Pune. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has struggled to find a way to tackle the environmental hazard of the tonnes of plastic waste generated every day by citizens. But the positive news is that some conscious citizens are making the efforts to make Pune a plastic-free zone.

‘Empowering Women to conserve Environment’ is a unique idea that Dr Madhavi Sardeshpande, scientist at National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) and Bharati Ranpise, a teacher, have come up with to protect the environment. The concept has provided employment to 20 needy and skilled women, who use the material from old saris to stitch shopping bags. Th is initiative has become a huge success with many people adhering to the concept.

Sardeshpande, said, “As citizens of the country, we have a commitment towards our society and environment. I have always wanted to make pro-active efforts to protect the environment, and also do something for women’s empowerment. During a survey, it was found that plastic bags are used in large numbers by people from all age groups, although the bags have adverse effects on the environment. Everyone says that it’s not possible not to use plastic bags in their dayto-day life, even though they are aware of the

Madhavi Sardeshpande and Bharati Ranpise

damage that plastic can do.”

Finding a convenient solution to prohibit the use of and replace plastic bags, they concluded that shopping bags made from cloth would be an ideal alternative to plastic bags. “We decided to recycle old saris, which also reduces the cost of the bags,” said Sardeshpande.

“Women are the ideal workers for the job of making the shopping bags. Providing them a livelihood through conservation was indeed a great idea, and my desire for women’s empowerment is also fulfi lled by this,” she said.

Teacher and resident of Sutarwadi, Bharati

Ranpise said, “Recycle, reduce and reuse.

Reducing garbage, recycling the old saris and reusing the saris to make shopping bags are the valid points of our innovation. It is the responsibility of every citizen to pledge to avoid the use of plastic bags. It is high time citizens woke up to the problem of disposal of nonbiodegradable materials like plastics and realise the serious consequences on the environment.

“Even some shopkeepers have joined with us and are discouraging the use of plastic bags and encouraging people to use cloth bags. We started with public awareness by conducting meeting at societies and schools,” said Ranpise.

Th is cloth bags are circulated to local grocery shops and vegetable vendors, where plastic carry bags are used mostly. Being made aware of the benefits of cloth bags, compared to plastic bags that are harmful to the environment, many women have donated their old saris. The response from vendors and consumers has increased and they have got orders for cloth bags from organic vegetable vendors too. vicky.pathare@goldensparrow.com

Women take charge in festive season

College campuses are places of new ideas and challenging views. These education centres provide an environment to test new ideas, debate theories, encounter challenging information, and figure out what one believes. Here students come together to work for causes that is an extension of the meaningful education they receive. The students of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) have launched myraddi.com, an initiative where they make eco-friendly paper bags from old newspapers collected from homes and provide it to people on the streets for free. All paper bags carry social messages printed on its sides. The members of myraddi have distributed over 10,000 papers bags in the city.

One can see them at busy chowks appealing to passers-by to use paper bags instead of plastics.

Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) MCom student Narayan Chapake who is a part of the initiative said, “We are a group of around 10-12 students studying at various colleges across the city. During one of our get-togethers, our friend Navnath Padalkar shared his idea of making environment-friendly paper bags by collecting old newspapers from houses. Soon, we were on the streets and doorsteps requesting house owners to donate old newspapers. We were surprised to find zero opposition or apprehension from citizens after they came to known about our mission to make paper bags and give it away to people for free. The problem that we face was lack of space to store collected old newspapers. Initially, we used to keep it in on our hostel rooms and flats where we stay. We all used to meet at a place on Sundays and holidays to make paper bags and distribute it to citizens.”

For these students, District Chairman of Preserve Planet Earth Committee Rotary Club Pune Surendra Shroff became an inspiration.

Student Amit Mohite said, “Once Shroff sir saw us distributing paper bags at the street and inquired about the initiative. He assured to help us in making paper bags. With increasing support from household owners regarding our door-to-door old

Young members of myraddi (left) devote their Sundays and holidays to distribute paper bags for free and spread awareness about its benefits

newspaper collection drive, we were covering more localities. We collected old newspapers and give it to Shroff sir, who would get paper carry bags made and give it to us. We visited various chowks and busy areas, and distributed those bags to people on holidays. We also launched our website (myraddi. com) and Facebook page where citizens can drop message for old newspaper collection. The paper bags distributed by us are strong and can be used for small time shopping, carrying vegetables and fruits.”

As studies and practicals keep their weekdays busy, the students use social media to share ideas and progress of their mission. “We can work only on holidays. Rotary Club has also extended support by printing environment related and healthy living messages on paper bags. We all are just doing our bit to become a change agent in society as we believe that one cannot depend on the authorities to address all issues facing society. This is our small initiative to spread awareness about cleanliness, environment, and good health.” tushar.rupanavar@goldensparrow.com

!

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Pune’s only all-women dholtasha troupe is an inspiration

Manini, Pune’s only all-women (dhvaj). Since the past two years, dhol-tasha troupe. “There were many young girls are also allowed to join women who wanted to the troupe. “My girls be a part of this rich practice for a good one

BY AKSHAY DIXIT heritage so I came up to two months before with the idea. Many the fi nal procession to @TGSWeekly young girls can be seen ensure that everyone Ganeshotsav in Pune is synonymous on the streets playing is in sync and back in with dhol-tasha. The sound of tasha instruments, so Manini good shape,” she said, trilling and matching with the strokes started off by being only adding that the practice of dhols reverberates every corner of for women aged 35 and sessions are held on the city during the annual festival. above,” she said, adding Sinhagad Road.

One of the greatest traditions of the that this activity helped Manini is invited festival is the procession that take women de-stress from each year to play as a place on visarjan, the last day of the their hectic household part of Dagdusheth festival, when the idols are taken to responsibilities.

By Ganpati’s procession, the river for immersion. Traditionally getting them to play in which is considered as called Miravnuk, the daylong the procession, she also a prestigious honour for procession sees thousands of people gave them a creative any dhol-tasha group in converging on streets and celebrating outlet. the city. the festival with music and fervour.

From 35 members Apart from having Generally, men dominate the Dholin 2011, Manini has only women in the tasha pathaks or troupes, a barrier over 50 participants troupe, Manini is - SMITA INDAPURKAR that 50-year-old entrepreneur Smita now. With one or two unique in other ways Indapurkar has broken with an alldhols at the start of too. The traditional women troupe. the organisation, Manini now has costume for members of the troupe In 2011, Indapurkar founded 20 dhols, five tashas and one fl ag is a white kurta and salwar, with a saff ron or red turban or sash. The all-women troupe went a step further and began renting out nauvari (nine yard) sarees, the traditional attire for Maharashtrian women, for their members. Now, whenever they perform at Dahi Handi and Ganapati festivals, all 50 members are dressed in colourful nauvaris, with a turban tied around their head. They also sport a Maharashtrian nose pin and a pearl necklace, making a wonderfully pretty picture.

“Music is a passion for us.

Members of our group come from all walks of life and across age groups.

When we play together, there is a certain energy created, that is beyond everything. It is the spirit of our group that inspires me the most.

Everyone is supportive. It is sad that the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi has become another reason to party and drink. We want to bring the spirit of the festival back. We urge people to use eco-friendly Ganesh idols and to discontinue the DJ system during the Manini, Pune’s only all-women dhol-tasha troupe, performing during Ganpati festival time of visarjan,” Indapurkar said. akshay.dixit@goldensparrow.com

PUNE

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THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JULY 16, 2016

An endles sea of opportunit and oneof-a-kind profession

The secret of Pune’s high success rate in MPSC

Time is money when you are in the MPSC race

S

itting behind the cash counter, Keshav Pathar spoke to us in a calm voice. “If had the option of not working, I’d concentrate completely on my preparation,” he said. Keshav, 23, works part-time at the Savitribai Phule Pune University mess, while studying at the Competitive Examination Centre.

“I keep jumping from class to class just trying to minimise my expenditure,” he said. Struggling to keep up with daily expenses, he decided to work at the mess to ensure regular meals at the least.

It’s been three and half years in Pune, coming from a small village

in Nagar district. “I still haven’t completely adjusted,” he said. While Pune has offered him a muchneeded direction, he has a few complaints, “Pune is very expensive.

Sometimes, I want to go back,” he said.

Keshav formerly worked at a call centre, but quit after four months, failing to keep up with his preparation. He jumped a few jobs, trying different things before working at the university mess.

He regretfully accepts that it could affect his chances to be successful.

“Maybe this is why it is taking me so long,” he said thoughtfully.

Then why move away from your

family? “In the village, you can never study. Your parents expect you to work on the farm,” he replied.

In Keshav’s village, he complains about not having the books, or likeminded people. “When you come to the city, you achieve half your goal,” he said hopefully.

After being successful and acquiring a prestigious post, he just wants to improve his family’s condition. Struggling to support himself, he is not able to send any money home at the moment. “I have no regrets. I am sure I will make it,” he said, and rushed to his next lecture. Time is money when you are in the MPSC race, we inferred.

PICS : RAHUL RAUT

In Pune, you understand your own level compared to the vast competition

T

exp

-K

“P

BY RITUJA RAO @TGSWeekly

“H edge of Pune,” he said. Another aspirant, Samadhan Babar from Beed district said, “It is difficult to fi nd books and study material in small villages and towns. We don’t have libraries or quiet places to study. And if we fi nd anything, we can’t afford it.

We come to Pune to get away from the problems and be successful.”

However, there is no set formula for success in the field of MPSC. Dayanand Kokare, Senior Auditor Education Department, Pune and a successful candidate, recounted, “MPSC is 99 per cent hard work and one per cent luck.” He too prepared in Pune and achieved his goal, rather quickly. Others like Mahesh Shinde are currently helping and supporting other students by establishing a competitive exams coaching academy in the city.

There are about 80,000-one lakh students preparing for MPSC in Pune at any point of time.

Th is inward mobility of human resource has resulted in a major boom in Pune’s economy. The MPSC pool of talent brings about Rs 500-600 crore in revenue per year for Pune city. Th is includes every service used by the students, including transport, coaching classes, stationary, books, tiffin, tea vendors, hostels, rent, etc. Sadashiv Peth, in particular, is bustling with these MPSC aspirants throughout the day. With all popular classes and about 50 study rooms within the two km radius of Sadashiv Peth, it is the heart of this MPSC aspirant population. The rise in rents in Sadashiv Peth is due to the high demand for lodging from MPSC aspirants who migrate to Pune from other places in Maharashtra.

We delve into this raging hub, to understand what it is like to live and prepare in Pune for the competitive exams, by conversing with the MPSC aspirants themselves.

“ ju fro to mi

Coming to Pune m

The public service commission is a stepping stone to a life of privilege and status. Against the backdrop of India’s huge and burgeoning population, this is an avenue that offers an instant entry to a life of respectability and success.

No surprise, for the 2000 vacancies, there are six lakh aspirants annually, of which more than a lakh are from Pune alone. With all its coaching classes, study rooms and libraries, Pune is a thriving hub for MPSC aspirants

hronging the streets, and residing in Pune, is a legion of students who nurture in their hearts and minds dreams of a sparkling tomorrow, and bright horizons with infinite possibilities. Pune has constantly evolved and redefined itself as a quality centre of education. The city is home to India’s fi rst school for girls that was set up in 1848, and is renowned as the ‘Oxford of the East’, with its nine universities and over a 100 educational institutions. But Pune is also home to countless young Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirants.

Overall, almost six lakh students submit MPSC forms, out of which over one lakh forms are from Pune district alone, the highest in Maharashtra.

Pune has more than 15 coaching classes and over a 100 study rooms and libraries.

Latik Kudmethe, an aspirant and tutor claims, “Sixty to seventy per cent students who were successful in MPSC over the past two years have been from Pune.” Every district has 20-30 successful candidates, but Pune alone has over 1000 with 70 per cent success ratio, he said. Th is is the highest in the state, with more candidates than Mumbai or Nagpur.

While aspirants prepare in Pune and appear for the exam from the Pune centre, they are not from Pune. Pune’s success rate, its infrastructure and its facilities have constantly attracted students from rural areas of Maharashtra, and even some from Mumbai. One such aspirant is Vijay Chavan from Mumbai, who has a BCom degree, and moved to Pune three and half years ago, to prepare for and crack the MPSC. “Mumbai lacks the competitive

PUNE

ow much longer will it take?” Ram Tupe has been often asked this question by his family. He does not have an answer, yet. Ram Tupe belongs to Ahmednagar district and moved to Pune two and half years ago. He too has changed numerous classes trying to find his perfect fit.

He currently studies at the university’s competitive exams centre.

“For MPSC you cannot prepare alone,” he said. “You have study in the right competition,” he says. He too came to Pune for the infrastructure, exposure, study material and guidance, but he specifically pinpointed one reason. “In Pune, you understand your own level compared to the vast competition,” he said. MPSC aspirants put a lot of emphasis on understanding the competition level and prepare according to it, Ram agreed, “It’s the only way you can beat everyone else.”

However, he is saddened by the declining vacancies and irregular ads of MPSC seats.

“Our future is dark, we prepare with no expectations or fi xed goals,” he explained. “We keep struggling, waiting for any MPSC ad and grasp at whatever comes along.”

Ram was pursuing CA in Ahmednagar and even cleared CPT but was not satisfied.

Aiming for better career prospects, he turned to the civil services. “More educated youth need to join MPSC. Financial troubles shouldn’t be the only reason we do this,” he said.

He has devoted his entire time to his preparation. He studies all day with no breaks whatsoever. “My parents are supporting me right now and I will not let them down. I will be a Deputy Collector soon,” he said with a glint in his eyes.

atience is important for M some students even tak years,” claimed Yogesh Ra a relatively recent asp who has certainly accepted whatever lie ahead. He came to Pune six month from Soy gaon, Aurangabad .“Earlier M used to announce 900-1000 seats. Now only release 100-200,” he said, describin ground reality.

“Coming to Pune automatically mean are ahead of 50 per cent of the competi he went on to say. It is a lot easier t updates from MPSC due to the availabi internet in cities and this inspired Yoge come here. Current affairs too are more accessible due to all the leading newsp and publications in Pune, Yogesh told T “If you are from engineering or M background, MPSC is easy for you,” c Yogesh, like many others. Many asp face difficulty coping with CSAT in M due to their educational background. Y finds this comparatively easy, having st Chemistry. “Like UPSC, MPSC s make CSAT a qualifying paper,” he highlighting the disparity due to backgro His day involves studying in the l and attending lectures, spending most time at the classes. He is also an avid r of newspapers, trying to be a step ahead peers. “I am just waiting patiently for MP next ad,” he concluded.

A woman can study for a

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eceptionist, student, wife and mother, Poorva Sachin Karbe is coping with all these challenges at once. Having completed her education in Parbhani and Yavatmal, she is the fi rst in her family to have successfully cleared 10th, 12th and a diploma. “I wanted to work as a teacher but couldn’t fi nd a good job. I want to do MPSC, because I want to prove that a woman can study for as long as she wants to, and be successful,” she said with determination.

Poorva, 25, moved to Pune about 18 months ago with her husband. She also has a five-year-old son, Daksh, who lives with his grandparents in Yavatmal. She is working as a full time receptionist at a MPSC coaching academy. All of this while

she p “We prosp Mara have son,” S coach prepa her a starte receiv ment study even the d Poor Com

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THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JULY 16, 2016

V

PUNE

ijay Badasaheb Patil has been managing to make ends meet, while pursuing his dream, as he helps others realise theirs. Th is 25-year-old from Borgaon in Malshiras, Solapur, has been preparing for MPSC and UPSC exams since a year, as he aims for the post of Deputy Collector. Along with his rigorous preparation, he works part-time as a Class Co-ordinator at a popular coaching centre, where he too is a student. His job involves managing students, co-ordinating lectures and supervising examinations, all while being an obedient student himself. He often attends lectures that he co-ordinates, maintaining the right work-life balance.

He recalled, “I was in the fi rst year of my BSc in Agriculture, when I decided to prepare for MPSC. It all started with a lot of self doubt and fear of failure, but coming to Pune and with the support of the right people, I have never looked back even once.” Vijay, like

thousands of other students, moved to Pune with one aim only, that of being a state officer.

He speaks very highly about his mentor and colleagues who have helped him stand on his own feet.

His decision to work has been motivated by his family’s poor economic condition in the drought-prone areas.

His father is a farmer and the drought has hit his family like countless others. Vijay describes this as his primary motivation to join the MPSC and bring about the muchneeded change in Maharashtra’s executive services.

He is aware that his work might distract him and affect his ultimate goal. He said, “It is possible to work and still crack MPSC, but only in Pune.” He described in detail the environment Pune fosters for the rural youth, who lack the awareness and the exposure. He said, “In Pune, you can live and prepare with the competition and see where you stand.” He further talked about MPSC being an endless sea of opportunities and one-

‘The government provides officers every facility till the age of 60 along with job security’

You can be successful if you don’t lose your aim and be perseverant

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KESHAV PATHAR

means you are ahead of half of the competition

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oo young to be narrating his tale, Nikhil Bagale, 19, has lived in Pune for just ten days. He is two years younger than the required age for MPSC, but he has already begun his preparation with full vigour. Resident of a small village, Aichale in Dhule district, Nikhil has come to Pune to crack the MPSC and support his family. “I came fi rst in my village in 10th and took Science in 12th. Everyone told me that I am an intelligent student but I had nowhere to go and study and help my father,” recalls Nikhil. Having the passion to study but no means inspired him to aim for the civil services. He said, “I gave 30,000 rupees of my 8th standard scholarship to my family and came to Pune to live on my own and make a difference to the society.”

Nikhil is currently working full-time as basic help at a local academy.

He does small tasks such as photocopying question papers, handling postal documents, helping the faculty and assisting the director. He said, “I am learning a lot from students here in Pune, seeing them work so hard for their goals. My job helps me support myself and stay focused.”

He is also pursuing a regular BA in Political Science from GTP College, Nandurbar, where his teachers realised that he was not meeting his full potential. “My teachers have sent me to Pune because they want me to get the best facilities and environment,” he said thoughtfully. He studies for his degree from the notes his teachers send him from back home and goes to Nandurbar for his exams. Nikhil’s day starts at 4 am. He studies until nine and then works full time from 10 pm to 6 pm. He then studies

again until 10.30 in the night.

He said, “People in Pune are very nice. Everyone helps me and I meet so many people like myself.” Having received the exposure to the city life and the support from his employer in Pune, he too wants to support other aspirants. He proudly said, “I support seven other boys in my village by giving them notes and sharing books. One day, I will bring my friends to Pune and support him financially.” Reflecting on the competition in the field, he said, “You can be successful if you don’t lose your aim and be perseverant.” He points out that this is why Pune attracts young boys like him, since there is an environment of competition in the city.

He candidly said, “The city is one step ahead.” Coming to Pune has been difficult for this young boy who misses his mother immensely. “I cried last night because I miss her so much,” he said. He supports himself completely, even in daily chores and cooking for himself. Nikhil, very confidently denies that his job and degree will distract him from his main goal. “I study very hard and work very hard too. I send all my money to my mother.”

Hailing from a tribal district of Maharashtra, he said that students in his village do not have the luxury of books, study material or the internet.

They often study under the trees or near cattle houses. Having noticed the situation, Nikhil along with 4-5 other boys in his village established a library and study room called ‘Swami Vivekanand Abyasika’, offering his community a space to study collectively. Th is library now has 32 members and the village has produced one SRPF officer, two police officers and some officers on administrative posts.

Nikhil’s second option, after civil services, is a career in politics.

He wants to work for his village’s development, eradicating economic deficiency and lack of water resources. One way or the other, this 19 yearold wants to make a change, even if not from behind a desk.

as long as she wants to, and be successful

prepares to crack MPSC and UPSC. moved to Pune in search of better pects,” said Poorva. “Vidarbha and athwada are lacking jobs and I did not any option but to leave my town and ” she said.

She came to Pune to study at the hing classes but six months into aration, she realised that it wasn’t for and she had to look for a job. She then ed working as a receptionist while ving enormous support from her tor and colleagues. She said calmly, “I y on the bus to work, I study at work, I sit in lectures sometimes.” Performing duties of a wife, mother and worker, va never compromises on her studies. ming to Pune has given her a chance

of-a-kind profession in India, as it requires no monetary investment. Th is being the reason, it attracts students from poor and rural backgrounds, who wish to make it big in life.

Vijay’s younger sister too is an aspirant, preparing in her village as their family cannot afford her moving to Pune. Vijay promptly replied, “When I clear MPSC and become an officer, I will bring my sister to Pune and support her entirely.” Have Puneites impressed Vijay? He laughed, “If we are nice, the world is nice.” When quizzed about the demand-supply disparity in MPSC seats with seven lakh aspirants each year, he confidently stated, “I completely believe in the MPSC system.” Students prepare for the longest time, three, four, even five years, but it’s the sustainable goals and realistic aims that make the whole difference, he said. His back-up plan is to go back and assist his father in daily farming activities, but the passion in his eyes told us, it won’t come down to it.

to do what is not possible in a small town, which is to do everything at once. “Pune has a good record of success,” she said.

“When someone becomes an officer from Pune, many others follow in his footsteps and come to the city,” she said. She also felt that another factor for Pune’s popularity is that Pune has a major IT sector and hence there are many jobs. However, Poorva also has some complaints about the city such as its transport system. She feels the city should become more friendly towards women, especially students and mothers.

She said that it is difficult to fi nd a house for a female student, and girls’ hostels are very expensive and limited. When asked about Puneites, she hurriedly replied, “There are good people and bad people in every city.”

Poorva gives a lot of credit to her family for their support. “My husband has come to Pune for me. He too is an MPSC aspirant but he pushes me to achieve my dream,” she said. “He is smarter than me but has to work to make ends meet,” she sighed. The couple lives away from their son. “I miss my son very much. Sometimes I feel that I haven’t been a good mother due to my preparation,” said Poorva. She said that she is blessed to have in-laws like hers, who support her studies even more than her own parents. Her daily life revolves around work and household chores and she only really studies on Sunday.

A popular notion of having a back-up plan is completely disregarded by Poorva. “I completely believe in myself that I will get it,” she beamed with confidence, “I will take any post I get and leave Pune. I want to be with my son.”

O

ne successful candidate, currently the Accounts and Finance Officer, Education Department and Senior Auditor, Pune District, Dayanand Kokare is living the dream. He said, “It is my good luck that I am posted in Pune’s education department because this is where I fulfi lled my dream.” Kokare looks after the finance for all government schools across Maharashtra and has been positioned in Pune since five years. “I was very shy when I came to Pune,” he recalled. Originally from Solapur, he studied in Pune’s coaching classes and cleared MPSC within a year. He said, “The fi rst six months in Pune, I had no idea what to do. Wearing a T-shirt and jeans instead of shirt and pants was very shocking for me,” he said.

He went on to say that Pune attracts rural youth because it has opportunities to study, work and both at the same time.

He talked about the economic sector created by these MPSC aspirants which creates 500-600 crores in revenue for the city each year. He said, “Pune has every facility needed by a student, including flats on rent, hostels, tiffin services, coaching classes, bookstores, chai-wallas, unlike smaller villages. You can go to Sadashiv Peth for coaching classes, Appa Balwant Chowk for books, Pune University for the library and any roadside stall for tea and conversation with students like yourself,” he continued. He laid special emphasis on group study and finding the right group of students for peer guidance. Th is, he points out is hard to find in small towns and villages.

“In Pune, students exchange notes from their classes, books and solve question papers together. It is a good way to keep up with your competition,” he said.

Speaking from his personal experience, he told us that MPSC is a really good system. It is the only profession where you are judged on skills and not your background or ‘connections’. “In most government jobs, there is a lot of corruption, but MPSC is clean and competitive. It rewards the deserving people,” he said. Th is, he believed is the reason 59 per cent of rural youth are increasingly attracted towards MPSC and are from agricultural backgrounds. “Simply, because they do not have the money and MPSC is their best option,” he clarified.

However, there is a problem in the demandsupply ratio in MPSC. Kokare shed light on the current situation where about six lakh students fi ll forms for MPSC, while there are only about 2000 seats to fi ll. “Th is is wastage of human resource, especially the 18-40 age group who are engaged in preparation.“ Evidently, the country loses its work force if the students spend 4-5 years in preparation with no guarantee of success. The solution, he said is, “Every aspirant should have exam oriented preparation, I can guarantee a 100 per cent that they will become an officer.” His tip to aspirants is to always have a back-up plan. If they are not successful, they should do something else but never lose the ambition of helping the society, he advised.

“I always had a back-up plan of working in cooperative management, but luckily never had to.”

When asked about his job, he readily replied, “The government provides officers every facility till the age of 60 along with job security. When the government does everything, why shouldn’t we do our job perfectly?” His department has not had a single complaint in the last five years. He said, “Ideally, an officer should say ‘yes’ to everything and a politician should say ‘no’. But in today’s practice, a politician says ‘yes’ to everything blindly and the officer says ‘no’ to everything.” Th is he believes must change and he has already started making the change himself. “I have given my number to everyone. They can call me anytime, about anything. I never say no,” he told us. His message to all MPSC aspirants is to have the will to do and change something for the benefit of this country. “If you do this, nothing can stop you, believe me,” he said confidently. Dayanand Kokare is currently supporting many aspirants in Pune and back in Solapur district, sharing with them his experiences and insight on how to get where he is.

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JULY 16, 2016

PUNE

TECH/START-UP Alappuzha, Panaji, Mysuru cleanest cities

“Google uses an estimated 15 billion kWh of electricity per year, more than most countries. However, google generates a lot of their own power with their solar panels.”

— www.didyouknow.org

P 12

Smart Phone reviews You’re Gaana Love This Phone!

The Vivo V3 with hifi quality sound will be music to your ears!

BY V. SUDHAKSHINA

Sunny Li-Ion !

Some help is on the way to overcome phone owners’ battery blues

BY ANAND PARTHASARATHY The computing power under the hood of your hand phone, seems to grow exponentially every year. Today’s octa-core processor, offers an eight-fold improvement of performance in less than 5 years. RAM memory, storage, camera specs — everything becomes bigger, better by the month. But there is one laggard inside your phone. It is the battery that fuels your phone. It just doesn’t measure up to the demands made by today’s multimedia-heavy usage . Gone are the days when your phone did just calls and text messages — a full charge was good to go for a week.

Typical use of a 5 or 6 inch handset even with moderate video traffic sees the phone die on you within the working day. And the technology behind the most popular battery material, Lithium Ion — a compound of Lithium as the positive electrode, carbon or graphite as the negative pole and a salt of Lithium as the semi fluid in between — has hardly evolved in the last 10 years.

With no radical new battery technology in sight, phone makers can only offer us bigger and fatter batteries beyond the typical 2000 - 3000 mAh of a year ago. In recent weeks we have seen phone launches where batteries touch 5000 mAh: On this page we have reviewed the Gionee Marathon M5 Plus sporting a 5020 mAh battery and the Xiaomi Mi Max with a 4850 mAh battery, both promising to keep you going for 2 days between recharges. The Asus Zenfone Max, has a 5000 mAh battery and power saving circuitry that controls processor performance as well as screen brightness to assure at least 2 days on a charge.

But phones with jumbo batteries are not to everyone’s taste: who wants to lug so much weight in one’s pocket or purse?

So an alternative solution is emerging: accelerating the recharge cycle than beefing up the battery size . At this year’s Mobile World Congress, Oppo unveiled what it called Super VOOC Flash Charge, which

charges a 2500mAh battery in 15 minutes flat. The One Plus 3 phone which we reviewed last week, offers its own patented Dash Charge technology with a 3000 mAh battery and claims to offer one day’s normal usage with 30 minutes of charging.

All these options come as proprietary technology on a particular make of phone. But what is emerging as a more ubiquitous solution is what its creator Qualcomm called QuickCharge. It works with all phones build around one of 5 recent families of the Snapdragon processor - 430, 617, 618, 620 or 820. Quick Charge has gone through a few upgrades and the latest avatar is version 3.0 which promises to charge compatible phones or tablets, four times faster than a conventional charger. It does this by boosting the electric current while charging to 2 amps and by allowing the phone to determine what power level to request — depending on how depleted the battery is. Since the Qualcomm Snapdragon chip is one of the more widely used by phone makers, owners of a range of recent handsets launched by brands like Asus, HTC, LG, Motorola, Samsung, Sony and others will benefit. It’s a good idea to check the specifications to see if the phone you are buying is QuickCharge-friendly or alternatively has the maker’s own solution for rapid charging as with Oppo or OnePlus.

One caveat: It’s not enough to have QuickCharge technology on your phone — the charger too must be compatible. And so must any powerbank you may use ( For a QuickCharge powerbank, see Syska PowerElite alongside) As things stand it’s still Sunny days for Li-Ion or Lithium Ion — none of the alternative battery materials are anywhere near the stage of commercial viability.

So you have Hobson’s Choice: bigger battery or faster charger. If you think a faster charge cycle is better than carrying a heavy instrument, all you can do today is ask: Mirror, mirror on the wall / Who’s the fastest charger of them all?

IndiaTechOnline

Pokemon comeback In its Second Coming, the cult game that wowed our parents, is a canny mix of mobile time-pass and Augmented Reality Pokemon, the Japanese game that was first launched by its Japanese creators in the 1990s, is seeing a sensational rebirth as an Android and iOS download, Pokemon GO, ever since it was launched in the US, Australia and New Zealand earlier this week.

The new app inserts the Pokemon creatures into your personal mobile world using your mobile device and “augmented reality.”

Pokémon Go uses the GPS capabilities of your device in conjunction with Google Maps to “place” creatures in real world locations, which you then try to find them using your device as a guide. Once you are in proximity to the “placed” creature, you then use your device’s camera to “view” the creature and try to “capture” it. This works with you using your device as a viewer to “see” the creature near you by looking at an image from the camera with the creature superimposed on it. You then “capture” the creature for points by throwing Poké Balls at it on the device’s screen.

Pokémon GO will use real locations to encourage players to search far and wide in the real world to discover Pokémon. Pokémon GO allows you to find and catch more than a hundred species of Pokémon as you explore your surroundings.

The game may finally see Augmented Reality reach a mass user base. AR, according to Wikipedia is a live direct or indirect view of a physical, realworld environment whose elements are augmented (or supplemented) by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data.

Durgesh Kaushik who has led online marketing at Facebook in Europe and APAC and is a thought leader in digital marketing and social media, sees the Pokemon GO frenzy as an opportunity for Indian businesses: “Augmented Reality has always had the promise of becoming a big marketing channel for local businesses. But with Pokemon GO, all the confusion about AR’s potential has been cleared The game is a huge opportunity for local business to grow their business. Imagine becoming

Twenty years after Rip Van Winkles who don’t know what Pokemon was, begin here: Pokémon is a video game created in 1996 by Satoshi Tajiri for the Japanese company of the same name. It is centered on fictional creatures called “Pokémon”, which humans known as Pokémon Trainers catch and train to battle each other for sport. The

Charge me quick!

SYSKA’S POWER ELITE QC BRINGS QUICKCHARGE FEATURE TO POWER BANKS The Pune-based Sree Sant Kripa(SSK) group is better known for the Syska brand LED lighting products. Now it has also entered the power bank arena — with a product that fills an important gap: Its PowerElite QC is arguably the first available in India that is compatible with Qualcomm’s QuickCharge technology. This is important because the phone you buy these days will increasingly offer this technology — but you will waste the feature unless your charger or powerbank is also QC-friendly.

The PowerElite QC is a jumbo 10050mAh device, with Lithium Ion cells made by LG. It has two USB charging ports and offers a variety of charging outputs : DC 5V/2.4A, DC 9V/2A, DC 12V/1.5A. This means you can use it not just for phones but other equipment like tablets, music players, speakers and home WiFi routers. It makes very efficient use of a single on-off button: Press lightly once to check the power level — indicated by 4 LED lights. Press twice to turn a torch on and off. One USB port supports QuickCharge, the other is for standard charging... the best of both worlds!

It packs a lot of power for its palm-size and 181 gram weight and considering its versatility, the asking price of Rs 3,299 is reasonable.

a top PokeStop for people playing Pokeman! It’s an unprecedented opportunity to draw people to your shop or store. So, get those Pokemon characters into your store as soon as possible. “ The app is not officially launched or downloadable in India — yet. This has not deterred many Indians from accessing the game from some international mirror sites like APK Mirror, APK Queen or Softonic, which circumvent the geographical restrictions. However since this not an official Android or iOS app in India, you have to do some tweaking on your phone... like changing the security setting to allow downloads from ‘unknown sources’. If you like to live dangerously this is the way to go, but please be warned that such downloads always open you to the possibility of malware.

There may be other dangers: Net security specialist Trend Micro points at one threat that may accompany Pokemon GO: For some phone users signing into the game with the most convenient option — using your Google account — allows the gaming company to read your emails. That’s because the Pokemon GO app gets “full access” to your Google account. It’s something most apps don’t dare demand — but Pokemon does.

In the US, already in its first few days, Pokémon Go’s real-world gameplay has been linked to armed robberies as criminals have used the game to locate and lure intended targets. There are reports of trespassing as enthusiastic players try to “find” and “capture” creatures on others’ property. And of course, there’s the risk of injury or death from not paying attention to your surroundings as you play the game: players following creatures on their phones have blundered into traffic on roads.

IndiaTechOnline name Pokémon is the contraction of “Pocket Monsters”. The game was originally made for the Nintendo Game Boy console but quickly became a very popular PC game. With the wide use of phones after 2000, Pokemon was overtaken by other, more graphically polished games — till this week’s relaunch on its 20th anniversary, with Augmented Reality add-ons, as a made-for-mobile app: Pokemon GO.

A smartphone may come with many frills, but if you are a true musicophile all you need is a device that plays good quality sound. The ViVo V3 is one such device that is made for music lovers. It comes with an AK4375 Hi-Fi chip, which, say the makers, helps in creating high fidelity sound quality. We tried playing a few songs on this device and the audio was immersive with crystal clear sound. The Vivo ear phones that came with the device were also able to give a detailed and powerful listening experience, claimed to be of cinematic DTS 7.1 sound quality even with ordinary headphones.

Sporting a light and slim metal-clad body, the V3 is a good looking device that comes in two color variants, gold and rose gold. The 5-inch screen comes with a 2.5D curved Corning Gorilla glass and full HD display with1280 x720p resolution.

The screen size might seem small compared to other devices currently in market, on the other hand, it’s easy to operate with one hand. The 13 megapixels primary and 8 megapixels secondary camera of this phone features the Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF) technology and LED Flash. The company claims that it has incorporated dedicated RAM memory for the camera, which would enable faster camera access and quicker photos. The smartphone comes with a 3 GB RAM and runs on an Octa-core Snapdragon processor with VIVO’s Funtouch OS 2.5, based on Android 5.1. The V3 features a 360 degree fingerprint sensor at the rear, which was fast to recognize and easy to set up. The dual-SIM phone comes with support for 4G LTE. The internal memory of 32 GB is expandable up to 128 GB via Micro SD card.

Featuring dual charging engines, this device has a decent battery life with a 2550 mAh battery. Priced at at Rs. 17,980, the Vivo V3 is now available across online channels and retail stores in India.

IndiaTechOnline

Lend me your ears!

Pune startup offers free app to turn your phone into a hearing aid

A Koregaon Park, Pune-based company which since 2009 has carved a niche for itself by specializing in hearing care solutions, offers a useful, free app: Engineers at Quadio Devices have created India’s fi rst app that turns a mobile phone into a hearing aid for those with moderate to severe hearing loss.

They have harnessed the smart phone’s inherent computing power and developed special algorithms that maximise the listening experience, letting users control and customize sound quality. In effect the Android and iOS app called Q+ Hearing Aid, provides all the features of a conventional hearing aid — well almost!

The app lets the user perform a hearing test, adjust the sound for maximum comfort, reduce environmental noise and then use the earphone of the phone much as one uses a hearing aid.

Quadio was co-founded by: IIT Kanpur and Cornell University grad, Paresh Patel; VJTI Mumbai grad and former India and SAARC Managing Director of Compuware Neeraj Dotel and by IIT Bombay B.Tech silver medallist Anurag Sharma.

Dotel is now CEO Quadio. Sharma who

functions as Chief Technology Officer explained that hearing loss is the second largest disability in the country that affects more than 120 million lives with majority sufferers over the age of 60. There are less than 2000 practicing audiologists in India and therefore most people have never actually received treatment until their hearing has degraded severely with age.

Sustained exposure to high decibel sound -- whether from traffic or from hearing music at high volume, or even from constant use of cell phone ear pieces outdoors — results in many more suffering some degree of hearing loss. They may not all want to go in for a hearing aid --- and the phone app will come as a boon to such sufferers.

“We set out to create a hearing solution that empowered people to hear what they wanted, how they wanted and wherever they wanted. The flexibility of controls offered by a smartphone app is much more than that offered by conventional hearing aids.”

The app works with all iPhones from 4s to 6s Plus and with most Android phones of version 5 and later.

IndiaTechOnline

 Quadio cofounders (from left) Anurag Sharma, Neeraj Dotel and Paresh Patel

ENVIRONMENT “We have 99 per cent of the scientific community now saying climate change exists and it’s caused by mankind. Anyone who doesn’t believe in climate change doesn’t believe in science.”

— Leonardo DiCaprio, Hollywood actor

H EALTH

The tuberculosis bacterium infects about five lakh Indians every year making them fall prey to TB

BY PALLAVA BAGLA

kill it may be that much easier.

To strike at the root of any terrorist organisation getting reliable insider information is key to busting it and then eliminating it. Similar is the case with the dodgy TB bacteria that just stealthily hides away in our bodies and strikes when it sees an opportunity.

Now, Deepak Kumar Saini, an Assistant Professor at the Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, is deciphering the signalling mechanism within the TB bacterium which gives it this invincibility.

How does the TB bacterium figure out that a new drug is being used to kill it and how this organism that has existed at least since Biblical times

Home videos help epilepsy diagnosis NEW DELHI: Doctors are better able to identify epilepsy type using home videos of people having epileptic s e i z u r e s , according to a study conducted

by AIIMS. The study was conducted on 340 patients.

The family members or carers of 312 of them brought home videos of seizures to the doctors for an analysis.

Researchers analysed the videos and compared them against fi ndings from video electroencephalography

(VEEG), a diagnostic technique used use to identify the type of epilepsy or seizures. The study found that the results were almost as accurate as reports of VEEG. When a patient suffers from an epileptic seizure, the family members, besides providing medical aid, should record a video that can be analysed by doctors treating the patient to determine the type of epilepsy, said Manjari Tripathi, professor in the Department of Neurology at AIIMS. “The diagnosis depends on the clinical history given by the patient’s family members. In most cases, they are not able to answer accurately.

Recording the seizures help doctors diagnose the epilepsy,” she said.

PTI

manages to become drug resistant.

To use an analogy from Indian mythology, in the sacred text of Ramayana it is stated that Lankan lord Ravana, the demon king, was almost invincible and only an insider knew his weakness on what strategy to adopt to kill him. Ravana’s impregnable defence and its weakness were known only to his immediate family. Insider information being leaked to Lord Rama led to the killing of Ravana. In the same fashion it is insider information on the biochemical pathways as to what is happening within the TB bacterium can help unravel the chinks in its armoury to fell this tiny terrorist.

The TB bacterium is cunning and is able to survive due to its ability to sense and adapt to its host’s

Hungry parents may feed their kids more The hungrier parents are at mealtimes, the more they may feed their young children, according to a new study which could have implications for childhood obesity.

In a study of 29 children aged three to six and their mothers, researchers asked the mothers to rate their hunger as well as their child’s hunger prior to a meal. Among women who were overweight or obese, those who rated their own hunger higher also perceived their child’s hunger as higher, and in turn, served their child larger portions of food.

“Because young children have difficulty recognising when they are full, the more food they are presented at mealtime, the more they are likely to eat,” said Sarah Stromberg, a doctoral student at University of Florida.

PTI

Drink water to curb appetite How the brain listens to the stomach during eating LONDON: Drinking more water with your meal can alter messages from the stomach interpreted as fullness by the brain, thus curbing appetite, according to a new study which provided scientists new insight into how the brain listens to your stomach during eating.

Researchers from Wageningen University in the Netherlands showed - for the fi rst time - real time data of the brain, the stomach, and people’s feelings of satiety measured simultaneously during a meal.

Stomach magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with functional MRI (fMRI) of the brain activity provided scientists new insight into how the brain listens to the stomach during eating.

Researchers collected data from 19 participants during two separate sessions with different consumption procedures and found that a simple change like drinking more water can alter messages from the stomach interpreted as fullness by the brain.

Th is new research approach can be used to investigate the interplay

between satiety feelings, volume of the stomach and activity in the brain.

In the experiment, participants drank a milk-shake on an empty stomach, which was followed by a small (50 millilitres) or large glass of water (350 millilitres).

MRI images were used to see how the different amounts of water affected stretching of the stomach: the large glass of water doubled the stomach content compared to the small glass.

Together with this larger volume subjects reported to have less hunger and felt fuller.

Th is novel approach - combining information obtained simultaneously from MRI images of the stomach, feelings reported by the subjects, and brain scans - can offer new insights which would otherwise have been unknown, for example that activation in a brain area called the mid-temporal gyrus seems is in some way influenced by the increased water load in this experiment, researchers said.

“Combining these types of measurements is difficult, because

JULY 16, 2016

PUNE

“Men who were obese were at much higher risk of premature death than obese women. Men have greater insulin resistance, liver fat levels, and diabetes risk than women” — Emanuele Di Angelantonio, researcher, University of Cambridge

Indian scientists’ insights for TB drug discovery

There is a deadly terrorist out there and it kills about 1000 people every day in India which is almost one person every minute.

No jail is strong enough to contain this tiny beast and it has found its way into half of India’s population and is ready to strike as and when the guard of the body is lowered.

Th is fierce killer called the tuberculosis bacterium does not wield a Kalashnikov rifle but its slow poison infects about 5 lakh Indians every year making them fall prey to TB. To take care of more than half a billion people who could fall prey to TB, the government has allocated Rs 1,640 crore, a mere drop in the ocean to contain this deadly terrorist.

In contrast the Indian government hopes to spend over Rs 58,000 crore to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets. Each fighter jet costs almost the same amount India spends annually to treat 5 lakh TB patients. In this war against TB, all hope is not lost as researchers from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru have managed to break into TB bacterium’s highly secure intelligence gathering mechanism which senses the drugs being used to attack this slow growing organism.

The hope being if one understands how the TB bacterium becomes drug resistant, discovering drugs that can

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY

MRI scanners are usually set-up to perform only one type of scan. We have been able to very quickly switch the scanner from one functionality to another to do this type of research,” said Guido Camps from Wageningen University.

“In conclusion, we have found that simply adding water increases stomach distension, curbs appetite in the short term and increases regional brain activity,” said Camps.

PTI

environment. Saini’s laboratory is working at unravelling the molecular mechanism that helps the tuberculosis bacterium sense, respond and adapt to its host environment.

In a recent research paper, Saini says starting with the basics, for any sensory system to function, there has to be a minimum of two components with one receiving the signals and then subsequently transferring the signal to another component.

Two-component signalling, as the name suggests has two protein components involved in the signalling.

The fi rst is a ‘receptor’ molecule called the Sensor Kinase (SK), which is present on the outer membrane surrounding cells and is responsible for ‘receiving’ diverse environmental stimuli. The second component is the ‘effector’ molecule called the Response Regulator (RR), which when activated by the Sensor Kinase (SK) produces an ‘effect’, by binding to specific regions of the bacterial DNA and activating the decoding of genes involved, in the response to that stimulus.

“Without these systems, the pathogen will not be able to adapt and survive inside the hostile and constantly changing host environment.

Understanding signalling systems like the two component system may be the key to combating this pathogen more effectively,” he adds.

PTI

Skip high calorie desserts, try yogurt

BY GITIKA SAXENA Yogurt, the super food not only known for its health benefits but hailed by experts as the ‘nectar of immortality’, is getting a taste uplift with myriad flavoured options and being recommended by them as a healthier switch from ice creams and high-calorie sugar-loaded desserts.

Believed to be of Turkish origin, yogurt is an excellent source of vitamin D, protein and calcium and can make up for the meals people are missing out on, says celebrity chef Rakhee Vaswani.

Hailing this bacterial fermented milk product as an ideal option for breakfast, she says, “just adding yogurt to a smoothie or eating a bowl of it with fruits will be a good way to start your day.”

“It becomes an excellent choice because its quick and won’t leave people feeling hungry. With less fat content and with so many nutrients, a bowl or even two servings of yogurt in a day can help people maintain good health.”

Avinash Dolwani, franchise owner of Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt-West India, which recently opened its fi rst outlet in the city, says, “It’s true that most people reach out for something sweet and rich to uplift their mood.

But doing this too often can lead to other health issues.

“That is where Menchie’s frozen yogurt comes in. It is flavorful, non fat, packed with proteins and probiotics.

Compared to regular ice cream, it is-only 1/3 of the calories and it contains the probiotics which are

necessary for good immunity and helps a sluggish digestion.”

Popular chef Ranveer Brar echoes similar views. He said, “Yogurt is a great super food because it has creaminess of cream with one third of the fat and the culture benefits of whey.

Besides having great taste, its also a great substitute for dessert.”

Yogurt, a rich source of micronutrients, should be a definite addition to breakfast, according to Brar.

Adding beaten yogurt instead of cream to gravies reduces the fat percentage and gives a unique taste.

Marinated hung yogurt is a low fat substitute to cream cheese. Also, marinating meat in yogurt is a good option.

Asked about many people avoiding curd during cold and rainy season, he said, “In Ayurveda it is said that a bowl of freshly set yogurt just before sunrise is actually warming in winters. Yogurt soups are another way of incorporating the food product in our meals.”

Rakhee says yogurt, with less fat content when compared to milk, cheese or any other dairy product is a better option, any day.

PTI

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JULY 16, 2016

PUNE

“Supreme Court ruling restoring the Congress government in Arunachal is yet another tight slap on dictatorial (Narendra) Modi government. Hope Modiji would learn and now stop interfering in democratically elected governments. Modiji, learn to respect people’s mandate.”

— Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister

Terror strike in Bangladesh, a wake-up call for India

BY SUBHASHIS MITTRA

The terror strike in Bangladesh that killed 28 - 20 hostages, two policemen and six terrorists - has sent alarm bells ringing in the security establishment not only in Dhaka but in New Delhi as well as the attack was similar to the 26/11 Mumbai incident.

The ghastly terror strike at the heart of Dhaka’s diplomatic zone is an important reminder to Sheikh Hasina Government that terror whether homegrown or foreign has no colour and no religion.

It has been observed by the international community that terror in Bangladesh is sharply on the rise and is mostly targeted at religious minorities particularly.

The horrific Dhaka attack could be compared to the commando styleattack seen in Mumbai on November 26, 2008.

The attack on a restaurant in an upscale locality of Bangladesh’s capital, holding people hostage, sorting them for allegiance to Islam, torture and murder of the infidels and release of the faithful and final fight to the finish are similar to the 2008 attack on Mumbai.

The Dhaka attack has reinforced the image of the new age terrorist. Three of the Dhaka attackers apparently were from well-to-do families and studied in elite schools. They did not have previous criminal records and were active on social media. At some point

Members of Minority Youth Federation take part in a protest rally against Bangladesh terror attack, in Kolkata on Monday

they appear to have been radicalised, most likely over the internet. Once indoctrinated, they turned killers for their extremist ideology.

This pattern is in stark contrast to the earlier perception of terrorists exploiting the poor and the illiterate to recruit them for their radical cause.

Bangladesh’s Islamic State - in reality, the remnants of the Jama’atul-Mujahideen Bangladesh network, which has re-branded itself with help from British diasporic IS cadre - has

Lack of criteria for heritage status rued NEW DELHI: Delhi High Court expressed displeasure over the Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC) not having any criteria for deciding ‘modern heritage’ status of post-Independence buildings in the national capital ever since the panel was set up in 2004.

“From 2004 you have no criteria?

Have you held any building to be heritage since then? If yes, on what basis?” Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva asked HCC and added “It appears they are only enjoying, not working. Why have a committee, disband it”.

The court made the observation during hearing of a petition filed by the Delhi chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) alleging “complete abdication” of responsibility by HCC and Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) to protect the city’s “contemporary architectural heritage”.

INTACH, in its plea, has sought protection of 62 buildings, including the Hall of Nations and Nehru Pavilion in Pragati Maidan, in the national capital which it has identified as modern heritage.

The court also observed that ITPO has been projecting the Hall of Nations as a iconic structure and the organisation has also been awarded for it. The court while ticking off HCC, after it said one of its sub-committees was yet to decide which buildings are heritage due to lack of criteria, issued notice to HCC, DUAC, the three municipal corporations, New Delhi Municipal Council and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and sought their responses to INTACH’s plea. It also issued notice to the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) which owns the Hall of Nations and Nehru Pavilion.

PTI

interjected itself into this political crisis.

Extremism and terrorism have proved almost impossible to tackle in Bangladesh as they themselves are a product of the deep dysfunction in the country’s politics and State institutions. The Sheikh Hasina government’s counterterrorism policies will, therefore, be under a lot more international pressure following this attack.

The Islamic State has claimed

Rajasthanis can now rate their police stations JAIPUR: People in Rajasthan can now rate the police stations as per the performance of its officials under a new online facility opened by the state government.

The facility for rating was launched

by Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria who said that the initiative will bring transparency and provide a scope for improvement in the police functioning.

“A software for this was designed by the state crime records bureau to start this facility. Any citizen can give rating and feedback about police stations on the state police’s website,” DGP Manoj Bhatt said.

One can rate a police station on a scale 1 to 5 points after providing personal details. A person can give the rating once in a month, he said.

The police station will be able to see the rating.

PTI

Imams to use social media to fight ISIS KOLKATA: In a bid to dissuade the youth from getting attracted to ISIS and other terror organisations, Imams here are contemplating using social media to spread the message of peace and educate them on the true meaning of Islam.

The social media initiative, led by Qari Fazlur Rehman, a senior cleric of Bengal, comes after reports that ISIS is extensively using social media to radicalise youngsters.

“Nothing has been finalised as of now. I am talking to various clerics, and Islamic scholars on this issue.

What I have seen is that various groups including ISIS is misleading the youth by misinterpreting the versions of Islam and Quran,” Rehman said.

“This has to be countered.

Islam doesn’t teach us violence or bloodshed. Islam teaches us peace and brotherhood.

And our aim is to spread the true version of Islam on social media in various languages so that it has the maximum reach,” he said.

After the matter is finalised, languages such as Arabic, Urdu, Bengali, Hindi and English will be used to spread the message on social media as part of a concerted campaign.

Rehman said that terror groups were luring the youth across the globe through sites like Facebook, Whatsapp and Youtube.

A few days ago, a youth, Mohammed Musiruddin, with suspected links to the ISIS and Jamaatul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), who had gone to Kashmir to train, was

arrested in the state.

“If you have to combat this trend you have to use the social media so that young minds don’t get polluted by the malicious campaign. I am talking to authorities and a number of organisations in this regard and we will come to a concrete decision very soon,” he said. .

Akhtar Hossain, general secretary to the All Bengal Imam-Muezzin Council, an umbrella organisation of Muslim clerics, who is also part of this initiative, said that the social media initiative would soon get off the ground.

“If someone tries to mislead people on Islam and about the teachings of Quran, it is the duty of the Imams and the Muezzin to spread the true message of Islam. Islam never teaches us terrorism and those who are using Islam to shield their terror activities, don’t know the true meaning of Islam,” Hossain told PTI. Muslim religious leaders and Islamic organisations have also decided to take their campaign to villages and madrasas.

“Using the social media will give us an edge in spreading the message of love and brotherhood. And this message will go down to the grassroot levels at villages and Madrasas,” a cleric said.

After the Khagragarh bomb blast in Burdwan district in 2014, many illegal Madrasas have come under the scanner for allegely being hand in glove with the JMB. PTI

PILGRIMS AT PLAY

Amarnath Yatra pilgrims play cricket at Baltal Base camp as they wait for resumption of the pilgrimage on the Jammu-Srinagar highway in Kashmir

Alappuzha, Panaji, Mysuru cleanest cities A survey based on solid waste management practises in towns across the country

Vol-III* lssue No.: 05 Editor: Yogesh Sadhwani (Responsible for the selection of news under the PRB Act, 1867) Printed and Published by: Shrikant Honnavarkar on behalf of Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt. Ltd. CIN:U22200PN2014PTC151382 and printed at PRI – Media Services Private Limited CIN: U22222MH2012PTC232006 at Plot No. EL-201, TTC Industrial Area, MIDC, Mahape, Navi Mumbai.

Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt. Ltd. 1641, Madhav Heritage, Tilak Road, Pune-411 030, Tel: 020-41220010.

responsibility; whether or not the group that has ravaged Syria and Iraq was involved in the Dhaka attack will be established in the days to come but this conscious targeting of foreigners appears geared to exacerbate the conflict between the State establishment and extremist forces that have long waged a bloody battle.

Whether the Islamic State had organisational links with the attackers is beside the point. The Islamic State and Al-Qaeda seek to brainwash people into jihadis who stage attacks on their own.

Looking for evidence of the Islamic State’s tentacles snaking their way from West Asia to South Asia would be a waste of time.

While the Islamic State terror group has claimed responsibility for this attack, hitherto the Bangladeshi government has refused to acknowledge the presence of transnational terror outfits in its country. Instead, it has blamed local extremists.

As of now, the horrific terror attack at the upscale Holey Artisan cafe in the Bangladeshi capital city of Dhaka has necessitated a serious reevaluation of the threat perception.

Unlike the machete-wielding murderers of bloggers in Bangladesh, the gun-toting terrorists at Holey Artisan - who were neutralised by Bangladeshi security forces after a 10hour siege - were well organised.

PTI Feature

Growth story of MSMEs in India P 14

NEW DELHI: Alappuzha in Kerala, Panaji and Mysuru are cleanest cities in India, a survey based on solid waste management practises in towns across the country said even as it placed Delhi at the “bottom of the heap”.

“Alappuzha, Panaji and Mysuru are three of the cleanest cities in India, with municipal waste management systems that actually work,” a latest rating by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said.

CSE’s report on solid waste management in Indian cities, is titled ‘Not in my backyard’. “CSE rated Indian cities on their management of solid waste - metros like Delhi feature at the bottom of the heap,” it said.

“This book started as a survey, we wanted to simply know which city is India’s cleanest. We knew that once we found out which is the cleanest, we would also find out what makes it so. This would give us the answers

for future policy,” said CSE Director General Sunita Narain.

Noting that the last survey to understand quantity and composition of garbage was done over a decade ago, CSE said that the methodology used to calculate waste generated is to simply extrapolate an assumed quantity estimate with the population.

“There is, however, no real onground data available. In addition, not much information is available on the composition of waste in terms of organic, bio-degradable, or plastic, or

the quantum. In essence, what had started as a survey was turning out into a gap analysis,” CSE said.

Referring to the Department of Economic Affairs position paper on solid waste management of 2009, CSE said that urban India was already producing some 80,000 MT of waste a day.

It projected that by 2047, India would be producing 260 million tonnes of waste annually needing over 1,400 sq km of landfills which is an area equal to Hyderabad, Mumbai and

Chennai put together.

Referring to the 2007 report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), CSE said that the report found waste was collected in 22 per cent of 56 sampled municipalities, segregation was done in 10 per cent, storage in 17 per cent, transportation using covered trucks was done in 18 per cent of the sampled municipalities and only 11 per cent had waste processing capabilities. According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) estimates, over 90 per cent of Indian cities with a functional collection system dispose of their waste in landfills, CSE said.

In 2008, CPCB found that 24 out of 59 cities were making use of landfills, covering 1,900 hectares of land while another 17 planned to create landfills.

“As India becomes more literate and politically aware, most cities are encountering stiff resistance when they attempt to dispose of waste in somebody else’s backyard. In Pune, Bengaluru, Panaji, Alleppey and Gurgaon, village communities have been up in arms against the dumping of waste by a neighbouring city.

PTI

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JULY 16, 2016

‘The hardest phase of our life is over’ P 16

“The deepest fault lines of our democracy have suddenly been exposed, perhaps even widened. Faced with such violence, we wonder if racial divides can ever be bridged. The shootings of police officials is an act of demented violence and racial hatred.”

— Barak Obama, US President

Chinese media irked with US, Japan China accused of taking control of the area around 140 miles from its coast

India ‘carefully studying’ UN tribunal’s verdict in SCS row

BY KJM VARMA BEIJING: Calling for national unity ahead of the verdict by an international tribunal on China’s claims in the South China Sea, state media directed its ire against US and Japan saying that Beijing should be on high alert if tensions escalate putting to test the PLA’s military strength. The US and Japan have claimed that relevant countries, including China, should comply with the arbitration result.

They stand in sharp confrontation with China, which has announced that the award would be ‘nothing but a piece of paper’, state-run Global Times said ahead of the verdict of the five-judge arbitral tribunal constituted Permanent Court of Arbitration adjudicating on the Philippines’ petition against China’s claims.

Besides accusing China of taking control of the area around 140 miles from its coast, the Philippines’ petition asked the international tribunal to reject China’s claim to sovereignty over waters within a ‘nine-dash line’ that appears on official Chinese maps.

The U-shaped line represents China’s claims to as much as 90 per cent of the South China Sea (SCS) important for global trade and rich in natural resources, including oil deposits.

“Whether the arbitration will lead to a severe geopolitical crisis has come

A Chinese Coast Guard boat sprays a water cannon at Filipino fishermen near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea

under the global spotlight,” it said in its editorial titled “China’s reaction to arbitration depends on provocation”.

“We believe the Chinese government must have made a series of contingency plans to deal with subsequent actions. What actions China may take on Huangyan and Ren’ai, (the area under contention) and whether China will announce a SCS Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) depends on the reactions of Philippines to the arbitration result and the degree of US and Japanese provocations,” it said.

“So far, none of the concerned parties want military confrontation.

But all are ratcheting up military preparations. The South China Sea has been clouded by unprecedented

Rules stressed for NSG membership India is not a party to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar shakes hands with his Japanese counterpart Gen Nakatani at South Block in New Delhi

BY LALIT K JHA WASHINGTON: Membership of NPT is not a requirement for joining the NSG, but adherence to its rules is a factor, a US think-tank expert has said, weeks after the 48-nation grouping could not decide on India’s membership bid due to opposition from China.

“Part of the problem is that unlike all current Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) members, India is not a party to the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty (NPT), and it has not subjected its nuclear activities to any multilateral restraints,” Mark Hibbs, senior associate, Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said in an oped published in Nuclear Intelligence Weekly.

One way out of this dilemma would be for India to meet specific criteria or approach certain benchmarks as a condition for membership.

“NPT membership is not a requirement for membership in the NSG, but ‘adherence’ is a factor in INFCIRC/539, and many participants would favor India making binding legal commitments including to NPT Articles I and VI and to

the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty that would bring India closer to the global nonproliferation mainstream,” Hibbs wrote.

INFCIRC/539, is an NSG document that explains how the nuclear trading group works.

According to the Carnegie scholar, the NSG also needs to consider what admitting India would mean for the NSG’s own guidelines and procedures.

Working-level participants warn that so far questions related to India’s possession of nuclear arms have not been answered.

These include whether India would continue to be barred from access to enrichment and reprocessing technology because it is not an NPT party, he said.

Hibbs said how the NSG handles Indian membership now is up to South Korea, which has inherited the rotating chairmanship until mid-2017, and Argentina, NSG’s previous chairman.

“They will continue discussion, including over possible criteria for membership and NSG procedures. If enough progress is made, the chairman will call an extraordinary plenary meeting to again consider India’s application,” he sasid.

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tensions. It’s uncertain where the situation will head to,” it said.

Another state-run newspaper China Daily said, “The United States and some of its allies are already eyeing Tuesday as a day of triumph, as they believe the Arbitral Tribunal in the South China Sea arbitration will rule against China in a case unilaterally brought by the Philippines over their South China Sea dispute. Much fanfare can be expected should the farce directed by Washington finally reach the climax it anticipates”.

China claims almost all of the SCS bit its claim is firmly contested by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan which have overlapping claims over the area.

“But before it makes any ballyhoo

EU court split on headscarf bans LUXEMBOURG: The EU’s top court faced a dilemma after a top legal officer said it was discriminatory for a firm to tell an employee to remove a Muslim headscarf, contradicting an earlier opinion in a separate case.

Asma Bougnaoui was dismissed from her job as an IT consultant in France after clients complained about her wearing a headscarf.

The European Court of Justice said one of its advocates general, Eleanor Sharpston, “considers that a company policy requiring an employee to remove her Islamic headscarf when in contact with clients constitutes unlawful direct discrimination.” The senior lawyer, whose opinion must be considered by the court when it makes a final ruling, found “nothing to suggest that Ms Bougnaoui was unable to perform her duties as a design engineer because she wore an Islamic headscarf.”

“Indeed, (her employer’s) letter terminating her employment had expressly referred to her professional competence,” it added.

PTI

NEW DELHI: India is “carefully studying” the verdict by an UNbacked tribunal which today ruled that China has no legal basis to claim “historic rights” to islands in South China Sea. “India has noted the Award of the Arbitral Tribunal constituted under Annex VII of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the matter concerning the Republic of the Philippines and the Peoples Republic of China and is studying it carefully,” External Affairs Ministry said in a statement here.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration said in a statement that there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash depicting China as a bully disrespectful of international law, the US should bear in mind it will be standing on shaky ground should it choose to trumpet the observance of international rules,” it said.

“Escalated US military provocations cannot be ruled out in the wake of the arbitration ruling should it be able to claim that the ruling “ justifies” them. After all, keeping tensions high serves the US’ interests and helps justify its huge military presence in the region as part of its ‘rebalancing to the AsiaPacific’ strategy,” it said.

line’. Ruling out against China in a bitter row over territorial claims in South China Sea, the Permanent Court of Arbitration “concluded that there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash line’.”

Asserting that it “does not accept and does not recognise” the ruling, China rejected the verdict as “null and void”. China asserts sovereignty over almost all of the strategically vital waters in the face of rival claims from its Southeast Asian neighbours.

Manila had lodged the suit against Beijing in 2013, saying that after 17 years of negotiations it had exhausted all political and diplomatic avenues.

“Such belligerency would put to the test the capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to cope with what would become an ever more complicated situation,” it said.

“China has consistently called for negotiations and consultations to peacefully solve the maritime disputes. So it is a welcome change that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has said his administration will begin direct talks on topics such as jointly exploiting natural gas reserves and fishing grounds,” it said.

PTI

Indian-origin doctor died as he fell asleep behind wheel

BY ADITI KHANNA LONDON: An Indian-origin doctor who died in a car crash after working three long night shifts is believed to have fallen asleep behind the wheel just a couple of kilometres away from home, a British court has heard.

Ronak Patel, 33, a trainee anaesthetist from Ixworth village, Suffolk county, had been singing on the phone to his wife to help keep him awake, an inquest heard this week.

He had been working three long night shifts when his car hit a lorry in August last year, his inquest heard this week.

Patel is believed to have fallen asleep on the highway at Honington in Suffolk, about five kilometres from his home.

“The most plausible explanation for the collision was that Dr Patel fell asleep,” local police accident investigator Mark Webb told the hearing.

The doctor was declared dead at the scene after he sustained a broken neck and other injuries.

Yvonne Blake, Suffolk assistant coroner, concluded that he died as a result of his car being involved in a collision with a heavy goods vehicle.

Patel’s wife Helen had earlier told police that he had been keen to get back home and they had been singing to each other over his hands-free phone to keep him awake.

But he was cut off while driving home from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

PTI

G20 nations agree to improve trade governance to halt slowdown

BY KJM VARMA BEIJING: The world’s top 20 economies on Sunday agreed to improve international trade governance in view of the global slowdown due to increasing anti-trade measures that have become more universal since 2009.

G20 nations, which account for 85 per cent of the world trade, would remain committed to an open global economy, and will further work towards trade liberalisation and facilitation, said a statement released following the twoday G20 Trade Ministers Meeting in Shanghai.

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) statistics showed that global trade growth has slowed significantly since 2008, from an average of over 7 per cent per annum between 1990 and 2008, to less than 3 per cent between 2009 and 2015. Last year marked the fourth consecutive year with global

L to R: European Council President Donald Tusk, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker

trade growth below 3 per cent.

The meeting endorsed the G20 Strategy for Global Trade Growth, in which the economies will lead by example to lower trade costs, harness trade and investment policy coherence, boost trade in services, enhance trade finance, promote e-commerce

PAMPLONA CALLING...

Revellers stand around the cow as it enters the bull ring during the Cows Festival at the end of the sixth running of the bulls at the San Fermin Festival, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Tuesday, July 12, 2016. Revellers from around the world flock to Pamplona every year to take part in the eight days of the running of the bulls

development and address trade and development, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The WTO unveiled a new trade-related index called the World Trade Outlook Indicator (WTOI), which is designed to provide real time information on trends in global trade.

The current reading suggested that trade growth will remain weak into the third quarter of 2016. Also, G20 economies vowed to support lowincome countries (LICs) to participate more in global value chains (GVCs) to drive global trade growth, it said.

The G20 economies recognised that GVCs, encompassing regional value chains (RVCs), are important feature of the global economy, and are important drivers of world trade. The economies would support policies to allow firms of all sizes to participate in and fully utilise GVCs. PTI

Moscow slams NATO for nonexistent threat MOSCOW: Moscow slammed NATO for focusing on a “nonexistent” threat from Russia at a leaders summit in Warsaw that saw fears over the Kremlin’s expansionism high on the agenda.

“A preliminary analysis of the results of the meeting shows that NATO continues to exist in some sort of military-political looking-glass world,” the foreign ministry said.

“Contrary to the objective interests of maintaining peace and stability in Europe... the alliance concentrates its efforts on deterring a non-existent threat from the East.”

NATO leaders united in Warsaw behind a “hard-headed” policy of deterrence and dialogue with Russia after launching the alliance’s biggest military revamp since the Cold War to counter a resurgent Moscow.

Alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said alliance leaders “stand together” on Russia, agreeing to bolster its eastern flank.

AFP

MONEY MATT ER S

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JULY 16, 2016

PUNE

“Providing our customers and developers access to Gupshup’s intuitive bot platform will create customisable experiences that enhance Cisco Spark’s capabilities.”

— Jason Goecke, GM, Cisco Tropo’s Business Unit

Signpost Relief to jewellers; SSI exemption limit hiked In a relief to jewellers, the government increased Small Scale Industry (SSI) exemption limit to Rs 10 crore from Rs 6 crore, waived off the levy on sale of traded goods and relaxed various procedural norms. Accepting of recommendations of a panel, the Finance Ministry said no excise audit will be carried out, for the first two years, for units whose duty payment is less than Rs 1 crore (that is turnover of manufactured goods less than Rs 100 crore).

Following protests by jewellers following budget proposal of 1 per cent excise duty on non-silver jewelleries, the government had set up a panel to interact with industry on issues relating to compliance, maintenance of records and other administrative matters.

Growth story of MSMEs in India

BY KR SUDHAMAN

Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi was right in saying India lived in its six lakh villages and cottage industries alone could create much needed jobs and livelihood to the majority of the 1.25 billion people. In India 60 per cent of the population is still dependent on agriculture but they accounted for just 15 per cent of Gross Domestic Product. So vast number of people are disguisedly unemployed in the farm sector and the number is increasing with land holdings getting fragmented generation after generation.

So what is the way out to ensure rural prosperity and the answer is simple: to develop clusters of small industries dotting all over the country. Very little is known about the great contribution the small and medium enterprises have made to the development of an economy. In India too it has contributed greatly particularly considering the fact that there is a large population.

It is established all over the world that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) are one of the major drivers of job creation and achieve dispersed development preventing large scale migration to urban areas. Also the advantage is that every Rs 1.5 lakh capital spent on MSMEs results in one job whereas it required Rs 6 lakh capital for a job in large industries.

MSMEs however cannot grow in vacuum and in a restrictive environment. There were fears that liberalisation of economy in 1991 that freed the country from shackles of controls that come to be known as licence-permit raj, has in fact helped the growth of small enterprises side by side large companies. They complimented each other. Today MSMEs accounted for 40 per cent of manufacturing in the country and 45 per cent of exports. Today there are five crore MSMEs providing employment to 11 crore people. Eighty-five per cent of the textiles industry are in the small and medium sector.

Every car produced in a large company results three jobs in MSMEs and services sector. Likewise one truck produced results in seven jobs. These

Nations to widen probe: Panama Papers Faced with resistance in disclosures by those named in the Panama Papers, the Income Tax department has made foreign references to about a dozen countries in order to obtain actionable evidence against such Indian entities.

Officials said a special wing under the Central Board of Direct Taxes has made multiple requests to their counterparts in foreign nations as part of the I-T department’s tax evasion probe against those named in these leaks.

They said that the taxman, in numerous cases in this list, was faced with non-cooperation and and non-acceptance of their accounts as revealed in the Panama papers and hence the department had to approach the foreign jurisdictions including Switzerland, British Virgin Island and the UK among others.

“The I-T department has approached close to a dozen overseas jurisdictions in order to obtain actionable evidence and legal material to act against those who has been reported to have stashed black money abroad as per the Panama Papers disclosures.

“In many cases, the department has reported, that those named in the list are refusing to be the beneficial owners despite the taxman getting some evidence that they actually are the ones who were involved in creating these assets,” a senior official said.

India has tax treaties with 137 countries at present.

SIT Chairman Justice (retd) M B Shah, in a recent interview to PTI, had said investigating agencies are

“As technology is at the core of our operations, we are looking at leveraging it to enhance customer experience through social and community interactions on our platforms.”

— Sharmik Sharma, Myntra’s Chief Product Officer

facing “difficulties” in reaching to the bottom of the matter as they are not getting specific account numbers and people named in the list are also “not disclosing” the details to the taxman.

A Multi-Agency Group created to probe these cases has already submitted four reports to the government and to the Special Investigation Team on black money in this regard.

The department already had sent a detailed questionnaire to a number of individuals and entities figuring in the list of those allegedly holding offshore assets in tax havens.

There are about 500 Indians named in the list which includes prominent businessmen, fi lm celebrities and those belonging to lucrative professions.

The government has created a Multi-Agency Group (MAG) of probe agencies to go into these cases, comprising the I-T department (CBDT), its foreign tax wing, the RBI, Financial Intelligence Unit and the Enforcement Directorate.

The names were released by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) with ‘Indian Express’ newspaper in India.

The ICIJ added a disclaimer that there are also “legitimate uses for offshore companies”.

The ‘Panama Papers’ leaks contain an unprecedented amount of information, including more than 11 million documents covering 2,10,000 companies in 21 offshore jurisdictions.

Each transaction spans different jurisdictions and may involve multiple entities and individuals.

PTI

The website of the Mossack Fonseca law firm is pictured in this file illustration picture taken April 4, 2016. REUTERS/Reinhard Krause/Illustration/File - RTSDRAK

Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Kalraj Mishra greets Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary as he takes charge as the Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

indicate the power of MSMEs in job creation and economic development.

National Statistics Commission Chairman Pronab Sen, who has done pioneering work in the growth of small industries in the country said that during the corporate led growth process of 200309, when India clocked over 9 per cent growth annually, the increased revenues of the government permitted expansion of both public infrastructure investments as well as SME investments.

However when the global crisis occurred in September 2008, the corporate sector cut back sharply on its investment activities. However the small and medium scal enterprises sector actually expanded its investment as a share of GDP quite significantly.

In fact, India achieved over six per cent GDP growth despite marked slowdown in corporate investments indicated that SME came to the rescue of the economy to keep the growth momentum.

It is MSMEs that is ensuring that India grew at a healthy 7-7.5 per cent in a gloomy world economy

Indian travellers bullish on UK, post Brexit In a relief to jewellers, the government increased Small Scale Industry (SSI) exemption limit to Rs 10 crore from Rs 6 crore, waived off the levy on sale of traded goods and relaxed various procedural norms. Accepting of recommendations of a panel, the Finance Ministry today said no excise audit will be carried out, for the first two years, for units whose duty payment is less than Rs 1 crore.

In view of large scale protests by jewellers following budget proposal of 1 per cent excise duty on non-silver jewelleries, the government had set up a sub-committee of the high-level committee to interact with trade and industry on issues relating to compliance, maintenance of records and other administrative matters. The government has also decided, independent of committee’s recommendations, to increase for jewellery manufacturers “the SSI eligibility limit from Rs 12 crore to Rs 15 crore and the SSI exemption limit from Rs 6 crore to Rs 10 crore in a financial year and Rs 85 lakh for the month of March, 2016”.

in which advanced economies and China that adopted corporate led growth have slowed down drastically.

SMEs in India have many problems. Access to formal finance is a major problem. Banking sector though considers SMEs as priority lending, bank loans are not all that easily available to SME sector.

Despite that they are able to compete partly because of the fact the capital requirement is much less compared to large companies, according to Sen. There is yet another source of funding available now that is to tap the capital market through SME exchanges of BSE and NSE. Here cost of funds would be cheaper but this is not getting popular rapidly as still most of the MSMEs are family owned and they fear going public. This is one area that needed to be encouraged, according to KK Jalan, Secretary, MSME ministry. There is

yet another major problem, that is lack of skilled and trained manpower. To handle this issue, the MSME ministry is working skill mapping of the country. Skill mapping will ensure appropriate skilling is provided to the respective towns.

Asked why the rating has not picked up in India and what the government proposed to do, Secretary Jalan said he did not subscribe to the view that rating of SMEs are not picking up. He said not all MSMEs require ratings. More than 3.5 crore MSMEs in the country are micro industries, which do not require ratings.

The recent decision to allow 100 per cent FDI in food retail and food processing industries will help MSMEs growth and development of food processing parks in the country particularly in rural and semi urban areas. MSME minister Kalraj Mishra said that he had representations from 130 SME associations for a comprehensive policy and he had constituted one man committee headed by former cabinet secretary Prabhat Kumar to come out with one.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government has already lend over Rs 1.5 lakh crore under the MUDRA to SC/ST entrepreneurs.

The start-up and Stand up India, Make in India, Skill India and Digital India will all help in the growth of MSMEs in the country. It has already done will despite several hiccups and it can only grow further, which is evident from the fact over 3,000 industrial clusters have mushroomed by themselves like Tirrupur for hoseiry, Ludhiana for woolens and cycle parts, Moradabad for brassware, leather clusters, in Chennai, Agra and Kanpur, gems and Jewellery in Surat, precious stones in Jaipur, Fireworks and matche industries in Sivakasi and many more. Now IT enabled services are doing well in the SME sector.

This explains the bright future for SMEs but there are problems which needed to be handled particularly the attempts of large industries trying gobble up smaller ones. This will not be good for the economy as has been witnessed in the United States.

PTI Feature

BSE introduces ‘Paperless SIP’ for mutual fund investors Leading stock exchange BSE is introducing ‘Paperless SIP’ (systematic investment plans) that would allow mutual fund investors to make transactions through various modes of payments. The additional feature on BSE’s mutual fund platform -- StAR MF -- would allow MF distributors to register SIPs for their clients, who can pay SIP amounts through various modes, BSE said in a circular today.

However, the new facility, to be launched tomorrow, is available only for non-dematerialised transactions and for instalment of amount more than Rs 2 lakh, it added. MF distributors have the option to register only Exchange SIP (XSIP) for their clients which allows for ECS (electronic clearing service) payment route.

XSIP, launched last year, offers the MF distributors on its StAR MF platform facility to register their client’s ECS bank mandates and upon successful registration with the destination bank, to start registering

Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Arun Jaitley with BSE Chairman.

Sudhakar Rao and Managing Director & CEO. Ashishkumar Chauhan

SIPs for their MF customers.

Under the paperless SIP facility, the investors would receive an e-mail for all the payment modes, including direct pay, nodal account, one time mandate and cheque, after the SIP has been registered.

BSE StAR Mutual Fund has become the largest MF distributor platform in India with more than 4 lakh SIPs per month. As per the exchange’s estimate, BSE StAR

Mutual Fund accounts for more than 8 per cent of traction taking place in Indian MF houses.

In 2014, capital market regulator Sebi had allowed mutual fund distributors to use the stock exchange platform for non-demat transactions as well for sale or redemption of these financial products. The move was aimed at allowing mutual fund distributors to leverage the stock exchange platforms to expand their reach.

Indian firms most transparent: Survey Indian companies are the most transparent while Chinese fi rms the most opaque, a global anti-graft watchdog today said in a new report that assessed efforts of emerging companies to fight corruption.

Berlin-based Transparency International in its report said: “Indian companies have the highest average score of any country. They all score 75 per cent or more in organisational transparency largely due to the Companies Act.” Indian fi rms dominated the top spots in organisational transparency with Telecom company Bharti Airtel taking the fi rst place with a score of 7.3 out of 10, followed by six units of conglomerate Tata and technology company Wipro, the report said.

The report covered 100 companies in 15 emerging market countries that also included Brazil, Mexico and Russia.

“In India, the Companies Act requires fi rms to disclose key financial information on all subsidiaries wherever they are located, resulting in Indian companies achieving the strongest score in this dimension,” the anti-graft watchdog said.

Nine companies (eight from China and one from Mexico) were awarded the lowest possible score of 0 per cent. Fifty-four out of the 100 companies score above average (50 per cent or more).

Chinese companies, which account for a third of those assessed, had the weakest overall performance, scoring an average of 1.6 out of 10 with just one, telecom gear maker ZTE, making it to the top 25.

“The very weak Chinese results stem from weak or non-existent anti-corruption policies and procedures, or a clear failure to disclose them in line with international best practice,” it added.

Transparency International said the report’s findings highlighted an urgent need for big multinational companies to do more to fight corruption. It said the high average score of 77 per cent among Indian companies increases the overall average. In addition, 54 out of the 100 firms in this report score higher than 50 per cent in this dimension, while, among the companies in the global 2014 report, only 34 out of 124 score over 50 per cent.

The average score fell slightly by 0.2 compared to the last time the survey was taken in 2013, it said.

“Pathetic levels of transparency in big emerging market companies raises the question of just how much the private sector cares about stopping corruption, stopping poverty where they do business and reducing inequality,” said Jose Ugaz, Chair of Transparency International.

PTI

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JULY 16, 2016

WATCH OUT When: July 16 Where: The Beer Café, Koregaon Park

RAE VALENTINE

Newly opened, The Bar Stock Exchange on behalf of Chef Kshama Prabhu and Gaurav Gidwari introduce you to a unique and incomparable Sunday of an extensive South Indian Fair, scrumptious crunchy barbeques and traditional foods like the incredible Chettinad Arbi Curry Leaf Butter accompanied by a wide array of chilled and refreshing mocktails, cocktails, fresh fruit Sangria’s and beer. You will have assistants at your side to show you the way to make a perfect barbequed meal. What’s more is the thematic live band among other enjoyable events that will unfold to sooth our nerves.

When: July 17 Where: The Bar Stock Exchange, Lane no 7, Koregaon Park

This Saturday, enjoy an unparalleled beering experience with a performance by Rae Valentine. For Rae Singing is her expression. She is inspired by Taylor Swift and she is also Rae’s primary influencer. Rae believes that if you actually love something and want to pursue it, you definitely will one day. Liven up your weekend with an outstanding performance by Rae and explore the intimate side of music.

July 21, Thursday I’m Not Angry (110 mins) : Navid is an expelled university student who tries not to get angry when faced with the immoralities prevalent in society, and does all he can not to lose his love, Setareh.

July 22, Friday Pistorius gets Robot Betty Paternal House The (105 6-yr-jail for mins) : The is trainee murdering Reeva manager story begins in 1929 and leads up to P13 P11 1996, as the tragedy of an honour Recent incidents of murder, loot, vehicle killing won’t let one family rest for vandalism expose the city’s efforts toward smart city mission multiple generations.

Where: Gyaan Adab Centre, Kalyani Nagar, 7 pm onwards

individual and family psychology or with suffocating traditions.

Gyaan Adab is hosting a screening Schedule of unusual films from Iran, a country July 19, Tuesday The Bright Day (96 mins) : A whose cinema has been appreciated kindergarten teacher and her by audiences the world over. These driver have six hours to track down films were part of ‘A Festival Of in mind the ongoing admission processto in schools and colleges, have witnesses willing testify inwe court Films’ that the Pune International“Keeping asked officers to interact with the principals to avoid any law and order problems. instructions have been issued to all the police stations.” to save a man’s life.

Centre had partnered with NFAIDetailed — Rashmi Shukla, Pune Police Commissioner July 20, Wednesday and Iranian Independents in, earlier No Entry For Men (105 mins) : In this month in the city. These films an all girls’ school, a male teacher are of mixed genres. Some are is hired for the first time ever. A both technically and conceptually hilarious battle of the sexes ensues. experimental, others grapple with

JULY 9, 2016

JUNE 12, 2.30 AM, WARJE POLICE STATION In a shocking case of loot and murder, 35-year-old autorickshaw driver JUNE 23, NOON, WARJE POLICE Bajrang Balram was hacked to death STATION near Ganpati Matha in Warje. The deceased was bludgeoned and multiple wounds found on body. Balram, a resident of Shivane near Karve Nagar, was attacked when he was riding his two-wheeler and proceeding towards his home, carrying a bag containing Rs 2.5 lakh. A few men accosted him when he reached his locality GanpatiTHE Matha GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JULY 9, 2016 PUNE and killed him. The police initially thought that Balram for money but the bag containing cash found recovered Well-known Hindustani classical vocalist from the crime scene. Further probe Pandit Mukul Shivputra (60), son of revealed that Balram was killed on “Social workgrounds is about human rights, not famous classical singer Pandit Kumar of personal hostility.

WEEK THAT WAS

Littering is a problem on a huge scale in India. People do not think twice about

assessing the life out of people.”

— Rob Mitchell, Social worker for adult services, Calderdale, England

Rocky Arokiaswamy (R) and Agnell Pillay coaching girl players at their academy

having playgrounds turned down their offer.

The duo is grateful to the nuns of Kroot Memorial School for giving their playground with the promise to take responsibility for any damage to property.

The duo has approached many people and organisations for funding and sponsorship but as of now the academy is run from their own pockets. Both work as coaches in different school academies. The money earned by way of teaching young boys football at the academy, goes back to the club as it is spent on getting equipment. “We don’t want any profit from this academy,” Pillay said.

Arokiaswamy and Pillay have plans to expand the academy and are planning for Under-19 team for Commandos FC to take part in district-level matches. “We want some of our students to get into the Indian Super League, I-League. For that, we send them to bigger teams to learn,” Arokiaswamy said.

Th ree of the Commandos Academy students also play for Pune City FC U15 ISL Team. vishal.kale@goldensparrow.com

BY ABHA PANDIT @abha_pandit

Entertainment has come a long way, from grandmothers telling stories to the neighbourhood children to masala-fi lled Bollywood fi lms. Here is a Puneite who combines the oldfashioned and the trendy to churn out an interesting and interactive form of storytelling. Hemant Baliwala, an information technology (IT) professional, is using his love for stories to reach out to like-minded people. Interactive storytelling is different from traditional methods.

Instead of a monologue, the storyteller takes help from the audience to move the plot along. The entire story is enacted instead of just being told and the experience is one of complete involvement. Musical accompaniment lends the mood to the tale, as different scenarios are created.

The 35-year-old considers himself a natural extrovert and a chatterbox, the traits that led him to become a storyteller. “In interactive storytelling, the audience plays an equally important role, since the story cannot move forward without the audience’s help. I try to ask them questions, usually about what they think is going to happen next and then proceed with the story after gauging their reactions,” said Baliwala. He started off by taking sessions at Aman Setu School and Gurukul School before moving to solo shows. Now, he mostly performs at public spaces like Pagdandi Books, Chai Cafe and Gyan Adab Centre, reaching out to a wider audience.

Hemant is taking the art forward in his own way, by introducing

Gandharv was manhandled and robbed at Warje. Shivputra, who stays with the family of his relative Priya Acharya of Warje, had left home around noon to Sarasbaug. He called Acharya after two hours to inquire if anything has to be brought from the market as he was heading home. Acharya called Shivputra when the latter did not come home by 3.30 pm only to hear a different voice on the other end that Shivputra has been manhandled and his bag stolen. Later, Shivputra reached home and said that he has been robbed. He told the police that he has an argument with a few vegetable vendors at Warje-Malwadi Market and four men manhandled him and snatched his bag that contained Rs 75,000, an ATM card, a bank passbook, and other documents such as driving licence.

Keeping litterers at bay

BY VISHAL KALE @IamVishalK

of encouragement in football while growing up. We see kids who can’t afford a kit or even shoes. We wanted to help them. If we could provide encouragement and guidance to the kids, why not,” Arokiaswamy said.

Pillay lost his dad as a child and is staying with his brother Melvin, who is a horse rider, and his sister-in-law after his mother passed away four years ago. Arokiaswamy’s dad is an autorickshaw driver, mother a homemaker, and brother works in oil industry.

Arokiaswamy and Pillay are professionally trained coaches and work as private coaches apart from handling their academy. “Our families weren’t happy about the academy.

They wanted us to support them financially and football does not bring in money. They wanted us to study and get a job,” Pillay said.

The two didn’t have proper kits and used to get injured more often while playing.

However, their love and passion kept them fi rm to march forward with the academy.

They struggled to get a playground for the academy as many schools and organisations

JULY 1, 10.30 PM, HADAPSAR POLICE STATION

enough people helped them out with funds so that they can reach out to more young girls who aspire to learn the sport.

- Shaunak Pandey

Rocky Arokiaswamy and Agnell Pillay’s Commandos Academy encourages female participation in sport

A unique storyteller gone a step further and is doing it free of IT professional makes cost.

They are inculcating a love for the grandma’s stories come alive with music game in children who normally wouldn’t have access to it. It would be great if

FORMER MAYOR DHANKAWADE’S FB ACCOUNT HACKED

Pune city is known for its educational institutes, industrial houses and IT companies and projects an image of a ‘professional city’ as one finds that the city is wide awake round the clock.

For people to work confidently and productively in such an energetic and vigorous city, they need to feel not only safe but also believe that they are protected. The increasing number of crime in the city questions whether Pune is safe, especially its roads. It was always said that Pune is safe and the crime rate is low as compared to other cities of Maharashtra, and women find it safe to use city roads and jaunts day and night. TGS traces the cases of persons being looted, killed in the last month.

Here young girls learn football for free With the football fever on internationally, the number of followers of the game has also increased. Two city-based young footballers are living their dreams and helping others realise theirs. Rocky Arokiaswamy and Agnell Pillay, both 23, are regulars for local football team Commandos FC (A Team).

The duo has started a football academy for young enthusiasts, and female footballers are taught for free.

“In India sports, especially for girls, is limited. The young girls are advised to stay away from games or they are more into academics. Lack of physical activity makes them addicted to social networking, which is harmful. By teaching them for free, we are encouraging them to lead an active life involving physical activities,” Arokiaswamy said.

Hailing from a humble background, Arokiaswamy and Pillay started Commandos Academy in January and train around 8090 youngsters at Kroot Memorial School Ground, Wanowrie. One of their students Viraj Nawar will soon join Mumbai’s Barcelona Football Academy, one of the finest academies in the country.

Love for football got them together, as they bonded while playing for the same team.

The idea to start a club developed due to lack of a premiere coaching club in the city. “People keep talking about Barcelona, Liverpool and other club academies, but it’s all in the basics.

So, why couldn’t we seriously take the basics and take the love for football to great heights.

We weren’t financially stable or even had a lot

JUNE 16, 1.30 AM, CHATUSHRUNGI POLICE STATION A 24-year-old Army Captain posted at city-based College of Military Engineering (CME), Dapodi, was kidnapped and looted when he was on his way home from a party at JW Marriot on Senapati Bapat Road. The officer was waiting for his friend to arrive with his car from the parking lot when four unidentified men in white Innova stopped and offered him a lift home. When the captain, who was drunk, refused their offer, the men forcibly pulled the captain into the SUV and sped off. The captain was driven through the city for around five hours and released only at around 7 am. He was driven through the areas of Pimple Saudagar and Bhosari, where they also changed cars.

He was beaten, assaulted and threatened throughout the ride. He was robbed of his ATM card, but when the kidnappers could not withdraw money they took away his cellphone before dropping him at Bhosari.

JUNE 27, 2.15 AM, SHIVAJINAGAR POLICE STATION Santosh Walsange, the 33-year-old doctor residing at Shirur, was waiting at Shivajinagar ST Stand for the bus that will take him to Aurangabad to visit

Don’t litter in Katraj, you are under Fight food surveillance waste, eat more

Katraj corporator installs CCTV and speaker near garbage bin, and reprimands wrong-

Food Dostidoers app rewards customers ‘clean’ plates at food joints who dump their for garbage outside of the bin

TGS NEWS SERVICE So, this online platform connects restaurants,

BY TUSHAR RUPANAVAR non-profits and customers to contribute towards @TGSWeekly @tusharrupanavar a greater cause.”

Demanding workplace and hectic lifestyle Food Dosti’s useful features include ‘portion Pune to Municipal Corporation (PMC) encouraging people eat outside has led to opening saver’ where customers have the facility of of food jointsgarbage at every street And onewith of thetrash, ordering only half a dish at a restaurant that uses bins corner. overflowing consequencesthat of this urban stray changedogs is foodand wastage, this app. The app aims to bring about a change in attract such, are and it can aoccur anywhere the customer’s food habits, by incentivising common sightinaround the city. The food supply chain — production, zero food wastage. citizens who just throw their rubbish processing, storage, transportation, The app launch by SamvadSocial around carelessly, so that instead of and consumption.

Pune-based Technologies is an extension of their the bin,SamvadSocial it is cast outside. Besides techno-socialinstart-up ongoing awareness campaign for foul Limited odour, such garbage bins also Technologiesthe Private claims zero food wastage cause through to have conceived andscavenging developed India’s their collaborative platform ‘My attract animals, which adds first comprehensive food hazard wastage and unhygienic Indian Dream’. “We invite, share and to the zero health application suite ‘Food Dosti’. work on visions, thoughts and ideas situation.

SamvadSocial Technologies through our platform ‘My Indian Corporator Vasant More from Founder-Director Sanjeev Neve, 45, Dream (www.myindiandream.in)’ to number 76, Katraj area, has said, “The panel free mobile application identify those tangible ideas that can launched on however, July 8 will come addressup foodwith a solution be implemented collaboratively to help this problem.

More has installed wastage. Toto encourage the habit address common issues in daily life,” of zero foodtwo wastage, this (close app will Neve said, adding that their fi rm’s CCTV circuit television) allow thosecameras who visit objective is to utilise the outreach of nearrestaurants the bin, to keep a watch and eateries on regularly to earn reward social networks and apps productively how people throw garbage, in the points for not wasting food they are served. We for a common benefit. bins or out. Th is has had the effect “I prefer to call the apps that we develop and are basically covering three ‘food handlers’ — of people taking care to throw their restaurants, non-profits and customers. Zero food deploy as ‘Socially Useful Social Applications’ properly,cost into the bin, and wastage will garbage reduce production for restaurant (SUSA) as it for a social cause,” Neve said, who the area the bin remain owners and surplus foodsurrounding available in the food joint decided to start the venture after working in the is broadcasted usingand the app andTh connected to nonprocessing sector of IT industry for over 20 years. clean neat. ere is also a speaker profits so that they canonupcycle the the needy. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com installed a poleit to near bin. If

The city is also witnessing incidents where misguided youths have started abusing, thrashing and hurting people randomly on roads, when they could not find money to drink alcohol. A gruesome act of violence was committed by three youths on a motorcycle at Hadapsar. They attacked three people with sharp weapons, including a knife without any provocation and the violent attack seemed to be just for the fun. The victims included Anurag Awasthi, Dattatraya Vithal Darekar and Tapeshwar Saha, who were stabbed by these men, who were unknown to each other and shocked by the attack. The two arrested minors revealed that they committed the crime as they were frustrated because they could not raise money for their daily intake of alcohol. They were drunk and needed money for drinking alcohol. The accused have a criminal record. Pune has seen cases of random vandalising of vehicles. But this was the first case where people were violently attacked and caused bodily harm.

anybody throws garbage out of the bin, someone in More’s office, announces on the speaker, and directs the person to throw garbage properly into the bin.

The residents of Katraj are happy with More’s initiative of installing CCTV cameras to keep the area clean.

Pune city generates 1800 metric tonnes of garbage daily, of which only 1000 metric tonnes is processed, so there is an unresolved problem of 800 tonnes of garbage. Th is remaining garbage is openly dumped at garbage depots at Phursungi and Devachi Uruli.

People living in areas close to the garbage bins said, “Since CCTV cameras have been installed near the bin, people are throwing their garbage properly into the bin. Th is bin in Katraj area has been there for long, but earlier people used to throw garbage near the bin but not in the bin, leaving this area smelly and dirty. It attracted stray dogs, which are also known to have bitten people. Th is is a key intersection of Katraj, where there is revenue (talati) office and Bhairavnath temple, so this

area is always crowded. Now that the Sanjeev CCTV has been installed, if anybody Neve (left) throws garbage outside the bin, he/she and his immediately gets an announcement team; from More’s office, telling them to (inset) Food throw the garbage properly into the Dosti bin. The people are aware about appthe CCTV and speaker, so they throw their garage into the bin.”

About the CCTV, Katraj corporator Vasant More said, “Just declaring that Pune is included in the smart city list will not make Pune smart. To make our city smart, we all must use smart ideas first. For that everybody has to work in a clever manner. Bins overflowing with garbage are a big problem in Pune city.

The main reason behind this is that people throw their garbage near the bin and not into the bin. If one person starts throwing garbage out of the bin, others follow suit, and in no time the whole area is dirty and smelly. So we have installed CCTV cameras and a speaker to keep

them off and hurt his left hand thumb.

Fearing for his life, the victim gave away his valuables, including mobile phone and Rs 5,000.

JULY 5, 1.30 AM, KOREGAON POLICE STATION Interior decorator Elias Ahmed Sheikh alighted from his car to attend to nature’s call on Bund Garden Road near Wadia College Chowk. Sheikh, who works in Mumbai and resides at Dhanori in Pune, was talking on his cellphone conversing with his wife while returning to his car when two people on Pulsar motorcycle met him. They started abusing, scolding and thrashing him. While the duo was abusing him, four persons in bikes joined them and shoved Sheikh into his own car. One of them drove the car and passed through Sassoon General Hospital towards Vijay Sales Corporation. They took away Rs 10,000 from the victim and threatened him to give details about his ATM pin.

On refusal, he was severely beaten. By now the car was plying through Nana

JULY 4, 3.45 AM, DECCAN POLICE STATION In another shocking incident, call centre employee Amol Tulsidas Thombre of Karvenagar and native of Osmanabad had just returned from home to Pune, his place of work, and was waiting for the bus to take him to his flat on Jungli Maharaj Road near Sambhaji Garden. When he got down from the private bus at the place where passengers are usually dropped, two people on bike threatened to kill him at knifepoint. Thombre tried to fight

Former PMC Mayor Dattatraya Dhankawade’s Facebook account was hacked by unidentified persons, who uploaded some obscene pictures on Dhankawade’s timeline on Tuesday.

Dhank awade’s nephew was the first to see the images, and he immediately shut down his uncle’s Facebook account.

Dattatraya Dhankawade had served as mayor of PMC in 2015-16, Dhankawade was elected to the PMC from panel number 73-B in 2012. His nephew handles his social media.

About the hacking issue, Dattatraya Dhankawade said, “In the morning at 11 am, some obscene images and messages appeared on my Facebook timeline. My nephew called me in the morning and told me about the photos and messages and immediately removed them. Someone may have done this intentionally by hacking my Facebook account. We did not file a police complaint as matter is not so serious. We changed the password of my account immediately and removed the messages and photos uploaded on my timeline. Then we posted a message to our followers on Facebook, informing them about the matter and asked them to ignore the messages.”

In a gruesome incident, a “Instead of just entertaining, software professional shot I would love listeners dead his wife, while their take home something four-year-old son was a good out of it.” witness to the cold-blooded murder. The police said that the man had been married twice before, and both his former wives had committed suicide.

The Wakad police have arrested Manoj Patidar, 40, resident of Ozone Spring, Wakad, for the murder of his wife, obstetrician Dr Anjali Patidar, 38, at her clinic at Wakad, on July 13. People in the vicinity got an inkling of the murder, when the four-yearold boy, who watched his father murder his mother, ran outside the clinic, screaming hysterically. A shopkeeper next door to the clinic rushed to the police station to inform them of the ghastly crime.

Anjali’s brother Amar Chandnao, the

JULY 9, 2016 PUNE

For the last two years, The Golden Sparrow What’s age got to do with it? has covered Pune like no one else Each year, brings along another candle to the burgeoning cake and that helps inspire these grand-daddies all the more. Thanks to their healthy and active lifestyles, they continue to look and feel younger

JOIN OUR 50,000 WEEKLY READERS, AND LAKHS ONLINE!

By Zainab Kantawala @kantawalazainab

Early to bed and early to rise is the mantra

O

ld age is usually connected with the terms forgetful, groaning while getting out of bed, falling asleep while watching TV, etc. There was a time when you were considered old when you retired, but these very inspiring grandfathers have proved that post-80 too they can lead a healthier and a more active life.

They are fit and do not believe in spending their days sitting on the armchair or watching monochrome fi lms in the afternoon. For them, retirement is the start of a whole new chapter.

They are leading more active and exciting lifestyles than when they were younger.

Yashwant Devadhar, 87, was a successful athlete in his youth. He even took up a job as a PT teacher at Fergusson College. After that he went abroad to pursue economics and became a French, Italian and Spanish translator and interpreter. While pursuing all this, he never let go of his passion for running. Today, as his age bars him of it, he looks back to his days and inspires his grandchildren.

“I did a lot of exercise and ran from Prabhat Road till Vetal Tekdi every day. For commuting, I only used cycle,” he recalls.

Very active at home even at this age, he does his work by himself. He prepares his morning cup of tea, and sometimes even cleans the house.

His day starts at 6 am with a morning walk at Kamla Nehru Park, followed by a healthy breakfast. After which most of the day is spent reading newspapers and various books. “I used to go swimming too but I had to stop after the doctors advised me to discontinue,” he says.

His diet includes eggs, vegetarian food and lots of salads. He eats small quantities of sweets and butter. “My fitness mantra simply is early to bed and early to rise, keeps a person healthy and wise,” he smiles.

“I did a lot of exercise and ran from Prabhat Road till Vetal Tekdi every day. For commuting, I only used cycle”

Little bit of exercise is important

The over-80 age group is less active than any other, you may think. But Bhaskar Nikam, 97, is fit, healthy and can give anyone below his age a complex. For him, a little bit of exercise and eating right is the mantra. His day starts at 6 am with a morning walk, followed by his routine of warm up exercises. “You don’t have to follow a difficult drill, just a little bit of stretching is important to keep your muscles and joints active. It can help you live a longer, happier life,” he says.

His diet consists of simple non-oily, nonspicy vegetarian food. His breakfast includes jowar bhakri or poha, rajgira laddu and dates, and for lunch and dinner he prefers simple dal, rice and vegetable s.

Th rough the day, he keeps himself engaged in reading various mythology and inspirational books, and, after an afternoon nap, he meets his friends in the society compound. “They are all retired like me, so we chit-chat to pass our time,” he says.

He worked as an engineer in the drainage department of Pune Municipal Corporation, and used to cycle on his daily commute. After retirement, he was determined to lead an independent life. “Too many people give up their usual form of exercise when they age.

But that is the time that they should actually adapt the exercise to suit their physiology and lifestyle,” he says. His main aim is to be selfdependent, mentally sharp and as mobile as possible.

He always dreamed of travelling by airplane once in his lifetime, but his economic condition never allowed him. At 97, his wish finally came true. “My granddaughter decided to take me to Bangalore by fl ight. We went there had breakfast at the airport and we got back. So it is off my bucket list now,” he smiles.

“Too many people give up their usual form of exercise when they age”

young enthusiasts, and female footballers are taught for free.

“In India sports, especially for girls, is limited. The young girls are advised to stay away from games or they are more into academics. Lack of physical activity makes them addicted to social networking, which is harmful. By teaching them for free, we are encouraging them to lead an active life involving physical activities,” Arokiaswamy said.

Hailing from a humble background, Arokiaswamy and Pillay started Commandos Academy in January and train around 8090 youngsters at Kroot Memorial School Ground, Wanowrie. One of their students Viraj Nawar will soon join Mumbai’s Barcelona Football Academy, one of the finest academies in the country.

Love for football got them together, as they FEATURES bonded while playing for the same team.

The idea to start a club developed due to lack of a premiere coaching club in the city. “People keep talking about Barcelona, Liverpool and I do what makes me happy other club academies, but it’s all in the basics.

So, why couldn’t we seriously take the basics “From making tea to getting and take the love for football to great heights. water or any other chore We weren’t financially stable or even had a lot that he may TGS LIFE

JULY 9, 2016 PUNE

It seems that old age hasn’t struck Retd Maj Wasudev Ambardekar, who is 102 years old. A veteran of the Second World War and Indo-Pak War of 1947-48 attributes his long innings to eating right and following the strict regime of a soldier, which he has done for eight long decades.

He was an officer of the Corps of Signals and was commissioned in 1944 in the British Army. He served in Aden in the Middle East in the North African Campaign during the Second World War. Post-independence, he was posted at Jammu and Kashmir amidst the turmoil and difficult conditions.

The former army man is a witness to events of the time when the Indian Army thwarted Pakistan’s plan of annexing Kashmir. He was again called upon to take part in the 1962 War against China in the harsh terrain of Ladakh.

need to do, he never takes anyone’s help”

I can’t resist sweets

It’s never too late to get fit

Pravinchandra Shah is 86 years old and still going strong. He runs an imitation jewellery and cosmetics store in Camp and refuses to lead a retired life. He wakes up by 7.30 am and does his routine exercises and meditation. His breakfast includes milk, khakra, and fruits. After his visit to the temple he goes to his shop. “It’s important to follow nature’s orders to lead a healthy life. Waking up at sunrise and exercising is important to stay fit,” he says. He believes that physical exercise in old age helps maintain mobility and independence.

Nobody in his house is allowed to sleep till late, says his granddaughter.

“He will wake us up if aren’t on the breakfast table on time.”

He avoids spicy and oily food, but sweets are his weakness.

He loves gorging on traditional Indian mithais and chocolates. Whenever there is an occasion, he even makes delectables like Badam halwa, sevvaiya and murabbas. “I can’t resist sweets.

I believe it is okay to sometimes break the rules,” he smiles.

He comes home for lunch and after a power nap, gets back to work. He tries to keep himself as busy as possible. He believes that it is because of his routine that he is able to keep old age away.

“Physical activity is important in this age, as it leads to a higher metabolism and reduces the risk of diseases common in older age like blood pressure, diabetes, etc.,” he says.

The health benefits of yoga are well are spent with his friends from the housing society as known but how many of us practise they all go for evening walks and continue with their chitwhat we preach. Kesarchand Vora, chat session. “Most people my age worry if too much of 84, who took up yoga after watching a walking is safe or not. But the truth is that such concerns programme by Baba Ramdev four years harm them more,” he says. ago, believes that it’s never too late to get fit. He wakes up at 5.30 am and starts his day with a routine of 15 yoga asanas for half an hour, followed by a 2 km walk.

His breakfast includes a regular cup of tea and whatever else is prepared at home. He then heads to the temple for a 45 minute meditation session. “Yoga has done wonders for me. I used to have eye-sight problem and backache which is perfectly fine now. I believe y o g a has the power to reverse the ageing process,” he says.

Before retirement, he worked at Walchandnagar iron factory, where his job required him to lift heavy equipment. This, he says, has helped him keep his muscles strong. At home, he involves himself in many chores. He likes arranging his room neatly and even washes his own clothes.

His evenings

“It’s important to follow nature’s orders to lead a healthy life”

Living in difficult conditions and a strict army regimen has helped him stay fit till date. At this age too, he is independent and does all his chores by himself. “From making tea to getting water or any other chore that he may need to do, he never takes anyone’s help. He wants to do everything by himself,” says Arun, his son. His mornings are spent in the garden and reading newspapers.

His breakfast includes tea, biscuits, poha, upma or idli. He eats whatever he likes, and is active all day long. “I can eat as many as 3-4 ice creams at one go,” he laughs.

He doesn’t follow any exercise regimen or diet as such, but his secret to a healthy life is being selfdependent, and staying happy. “I have no blood pressure problems or diabetes. I am fit because I do what makes me happy,” adds Wasudev.

“I believe yoga has the power to reverse the ageing process”

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the wide scale of the vandalism. Infuriated, shocked and frustrated, he then informed his neighbours about the vandalism. Their consensus was that the person responsible for the vandalism was Vilas Chavan, former chairman of the society.

Hadapsar police station Senior Police Inspector Vishnu Pawar said that Chavan has 22 criminal cases registered against him. “In the past he has been involved in numerous incidents of vandalism in the society premises previously. Based on his interrogation and statements given by the residents we have now registered a case against Vilas Chavan under sections 379 (Punishment for theft) and 427 (Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) of the Indian Penal Code,” he said.

of encouragement in football while growing up. We see kids who can’t afford a kit or even shoes. We wanted to help them. If we could provide encouragement and guidance to the kids, why not,” Arokiaswamy said.

Pillay lost his dad as a child and is staying with his brother Melvin, who is a horse rider, and his sister-in-law after his mother passed away four years ago. Arokiaswamy’s dad is an autorickshaw driver, mother a homemaker, and brother works in oil industry.

Arokiaswamy and Pillay are professionally trained coaches and work as private coaches apart from handling their academy. “Our families weren’t happy about the academy.

They wanted us to support them financially and football does not bring in money. They wanted us to study and get a job,” Pillay said.

The two didn’t have proper kits and used to get injured more often while playing.

However, their love and passion kept them fi rm to march forward with the academy.

They struggled to get a playground for the academy as many schools and organisations

having playgrounds turned down their offer.

The duo is grateful to the nuns of Kroot Memorial School for giving their playground with the promise to take responsibility for any damage to property.

The duo has approached many people and organisations for funding and sponsorship but as of now the academy is run from their own pockets. Both work as coaches in different school academies. The money earned by way of teaching young boys football at the academy, goes back to the club as it is spent on getting equipment. “We don’t want any profit from this academy,” Pillay said.

Arokiaswamy and Pillay have plans to expand the academy and are planning for Under-19 team for Commandos FC to take part in district-level matches. “We want some of our students to get into the Indian Super League, I-League. For that, we send them to bigger teams to learn,” Arokiaswamy said.

Th ree of the Commandos Academy students also play for Pune City FC U15 ISL Team. vishal.kale@goldensparrow.com

IT professional makes grandma’s stories come alive with music

Stopping unnecessary food wastage

BY ABHA PANDIT @abha_pandit

Entertainment has come a long way, from grandmothers telling stories to the neighbourhood children to masala-fi lled Bollywood fi lms. Here is a Puneite who combines the oldfashioned and the trendy to churn out an interesting and interactive form of storytelling. Hemant Baliwala, ARY S R E an information technology (IT) ANNIV professional, is using his love for stories to reach out to like-minded people. Interactive storytelling is different from traditional methods.

Instead of a monologue, the storyteller takes help from the audience to move Contact: 9011055077 the plot along. The entire story is enacted instead of just being told and the experience is one of complete involvement. Musical accompaniment lends the mood to the tale, as different scenarios are created.

The 35-year-old considers himself a natural extrovert and a chatterbox, the traits that led him to become a storyteller. “In interactive storytelling, the audience plays an equally important role, since the story cannot move forward without the audience’s help. I try to ask them questions, usually about what they think is going to happen next and then proceed with the story after gauging their reactions,” said Baliwala. He started off by taking sessions at Aman Setu School and Gurukul School before moving to solo shows. Now, he mostly performs at public spaces like Pagdandi Books, Chai Cafe and Gyan Adab Centre, reaching out to a wider audience.

Hemant is taking the art forward in his own way, by introducing

complainant, living in Kalyaninagar stated that Anjali got married to Manoj Patidar five years ago.

However, there was intense friction between Anjali and Manoj for two years, over domestic and financial issues. This led to a situation where Anjali was having a hard time to buy milk and biscuits for her son.

On Wednesday, July 13, evening, they had another fight in the presence of their son Prayag.

At around 8.30 pm, Prayag ran screaming out of the clinic, and told the neighbour, the shopkeeper, that his father was beating his mother. Police sub inspector Rajkumar Kindre and his team rushed to the scene of the crime. He has been booked under Section 302 (Murder) of the Indian Penal Code and section 3 (25) of the Arm Act.

Rocky Arokiaswamy (R) and Agnell Pillay coaching girl players at their academy

His diet includes simple home-cooked meals.

He doesn’t mind eating spicy or oily food either, but everything in a limit. “Only mangoes are an exception,” he chuckles. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com

grandfathers who haven’t let age get the best of them. Some of their habits canndbe SPECIAL SUBSCRIPTION picked OFFER up by people of all ages, in order ATIOIfN `199 to improve the quality ofCtheir lives.

ELEBR For 1 year they can stay fit when they are in their 80s

FORMER SOCIETY CHAIRMAN VANDALISES 44 TWO-WHEELERS

The residents of Nirmal Township, Kale Padal, Hadapsar, woke up on Wednesday morning, to be greeted by the shocking sight – ripped open the seat covers and scooped out the cushions of 44 twowheelers parked in the society’s parking lot. The residents alleged that this vandalism that happened at around midnight on July 12 is the work of Vilas Chavan, the former chairman of the society. The police have detained Chavan and are investigating.

The owners of the two-wheelers, whose seats have been destroyed, are infuriated with the senseless act of vandalism.

Society resident Pramod Dalvi told TGS that he was the one who discovered the damage to the twowheelers. When he went to the parking lot, he saw

tradition alive

I grew up listening to my grandmother telling me stories every night before I went to sleep. As an adult, that is something which I still miss sometimes. The story about Hemant Baliwala’s story-telling sessions took me back to my childhood. It is a brilliant idea to combine story-telling and other arts, involving the audience by breaking down the wall which usually exists in cinema and stage performances.

By lending a personal touch, it really brings the audience and the story-teller closer. I am looking forward to attending one of upcoming his sessions. unique storyteller- Ajinkya Kulkarni

Wastage of food has always been a problem in upper middle class and upper class families in India. The fact that so many people who are poor do not have enough to eat makes it even worse. The Storytelling sessions of Hemant Baliwala (below) attracts large audience

collaborations with artistes who excel in different mediums. “I like to keep the interactions as organic as possible and try to collaborate with various artistes for each event, which lends a unique touch as they bring in their own creativity,” he said. For his event at Pagdandi last week, Baliwala teamed up with Vedashree Mahajan, a child artiste, who played a character in his original ‘Jugni’ series of stories.

In his coming performances, he has plans to work with dancers as well as other artists. Hemant’s wife Niha Jain, an HR manager, lends live music accompaniments to all his performances.

The biggest challenge he faces is keeping the entire audience engaged for the duration of the performance.

Since he began with public shows, everyone, right from children to senior citizens, drops in to listen.

“Because of the varied age group, it becomes important for me to tweak my performance so that everyone fi nds something they will enjoy. I have to change the language and mellow it down if there are children sitting in

the audience,” he said. It also becomes difficult to remember the entire plot, since there is absolutely nothing for reference during the performance.

Unlike plays, this happens in close proximity to the audience, with no fourth wall separating the two.

T h r o u g h the medium of interactive and musical storytelling, Baliwala tries to send out certain messages by way of his stories. “By depicting certain situations in my stories, I want to give subtle messages about life, without sounding too preachy,” he said. Using his art to talk about sensitive issues like the need to disregard dark complexions in India, he hopes he can reach out and connect to his audiences. “Instead of just entertaining my listeners, I would love it if they took home something good out of the whole process,” he feels. As for his future plans, Baliwala wants to collaborate with visual artists and publish his original stories as graphic novels, so that they can be easily accessible to everyone. abha.pandit@goldensparrow.com

“Instead of just entertaining, I would love listeners take home something good out of it.”

JULY 9, 2016

PUNE

“Social work is about human rights, not assessing the life out of people.”

— Rob Mitchell, Social worker for adult services, Calderdale, England

POLICE SPEAK DCP (Crime) PR Patil told TGS that crime has not increased but dipped considerably. “Police operations have become well-organised and response to dial 100 is very efficient and timely. Beat marshals on regular rounds have increased people’s confidence. What would add to the efficiency of police is fast and prompt

BY VISHAL KALE interventions by citizens. They should not @IamVishalK be afraid of involving themselves with the police, rather they should work alongside the police and increase their effectiveness.

With the football fever on internationally, Police Commissioner Rashmi Shukla the number of followers of the game has also assured that policing will meet Prime Two city-based young footballers Minister Narendra Modi’s vision ofincreased. a are living their dreams and helping others smart city. “People-friendly and smart theirs. Rocky Arokiaswamy and policing are my priorities. We have torealise be well-prepared to eradicate crime from Agnell the Pillay, both 23, are regulars for local city,” she said. football team Commandos FC (A Team). yogesh.wagh@goldensparrow.com The duo has started a football academy for

WE BREATHE PUNE!

MAN KILLS WIFE IN FRONT OF THEIR FOUR-YEAR-OLD SON the audience,” he said. It also becomes difficult to remember the entire plot, since there is absolutely nothing for reference during the performance.

Unlike plays, this happens in close proximity to the audience, with no fourth wall separating the two.

T h r o u g h the medium of interactive and musical storytelling, Baliwala tries to send out certain messages by way of his stories. “By depicting certain situations in my stories, I want to give subtle messages about life, without sounding too preachy,” he said. Using his art to talk about sensitive issues like the need to disregard dark complexions in India, he hopes he can reach out and connect to his audiences. “Instead of just entertaining my listeners, I would love it if they took home something good out of the whole process,” he feels. As for his future plans, Baliwala wants to collaborate with visual artists and publish his original stories as graphic novels, so that they can be easily accessible to everyone. abha.pandit@goldensparrow.com

“Social work is an emotionally demanding profession, suggesting that particular attention should be given by social work employers to the workplace environment and social worker support.”

— Laura Biggart, Lecturer, University of East Anglia

Here young girls learn football for free

PUBLISHING

Storytelling sessions of Hemant Baliwala (below) attracts large audience

collaborations with artistes who excel in different mediums. “I like to keep the interactions as organic as possible and try to collaborate with various artistes for each event, which lends a unique touch as they bring in their own creativity,” he said. For his event at Pagdandi last week, Baliwala teamed up with Vedashree Mahajan, a child artiste, who played a character in his original ‘Jugni’ series of stories.

In his coming performances, he has plans to work with dancers as well as other artists. Hemant’s wife Niha Jain, an HR manager, lends live music accompaniments to all his performances.

The biggest challenge he faces is keeping the entire audience engaged for the duration of the performance.

Since he began with public shows, everyone, right from children to senior citizens, drops in to listen.

“Because of the varied age group, it becomes important for me to tweak my performance so that everyone fi nds something they will enjoy. I have to change the language and mellow it down if there are children sitting in

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY

Peth to Seven Loves Chowk. Again they threatened him and asked him for the ATM pin. Severely abused, Sheikh gave away the pin details of two accounts. The looters withdrew from an ICICI ATM at Market Yard, a sum of Rs 18,000 (Rs 5,000 from one account and Rs 13,000 from another). Then again the victim was shoved back into the car and they drove towards Gangadham Chowk, proceeding towards Kawasar Bagh Masjid, Lullanagar. There two of the men sitting by the side of Sheikh got down and taking this opportunity the victim pushed the other two looters out of the car and escaped. After sometime, he hired a rickshaw and went towards Pulgate and alerted his relatives. The victim and relatives went to the place from he had escaped and found the car abandoned by the looters.

The story about fit senior citizens above the age of 80 is a truly inspirational read.

With the sedentary lifestyle the current generation leads, staying fit and active is all the more important. Everyone can stand to learn a thing or two from these TGS LIFE

tossing garbage on the road, even if there are dustbins nearby. The attitude is honestly disgusting and it completely turns around when they visit foreign countries. It is great

Avantika Kadapatti Student Pokémon GO is not like other games which you play on screens with or without the help of your console, it’s realtime. Augmented Reality games help gamers connect their actual life to the game, therefore establishing a link that I strongly believe, adds adventure and a personal touch to the game.

PUNE

Healthy and active in old age

FEATURES

watch on people throwing garbage out of the bin. The people in my office can see such people and direct them over the speaker to throw the garbage properly into the bin. Now people of my ward too are aware about the CCTV and speaker, and they also tell other people to throw garbage properly into the bin. When the garbage bin gets full, my office peon calls the ward office of PMC, and asks them to clear the bin.

The CCTVs and speaker have brought about a tremendous change, and now the area around the bin is clean and neat. This is a scientific method to keep garbage bins clean in the city. PMC has 157 corporators. If everybody installs one CCTV camera to keep watch on garbage bin in his own ward, 157 bins will remain clean and help our city remain clean. This will automatically help in the Swacch Bharat Abhiyan of the central government.” tushar.rupanavar@goldensparrow.com

Swarnima Korde Electronics Engineer As kids, we were all borderline obsessed with Pokémon.

Every fan has day-dreamt of warging into Ash and living their own mission. But then we grew up, and forgot all about it. And now suddenly, out of the blue we’re offered the perfect chance to awaken our long-latent desires. And for free. It’s nothing short of a dream-come-true

that Corporator Vasant More is attempting and 90s, these young kids shouldn’t be to reduce this by installing CCTV cameras. complaining at all!

- Vishakha Patni If people are scared of being caught, then hopefully they won’t be so carefree.

Arokiaswamy and Agnell Pillay’s Commandos Academy encourages female participation in sport - Viraj Rocky Sutra Keeping the story-telling

his family when a cab driver enquired him about his destination. The doctor accepted the cab driver’s offer to take him to Aurangabad and also agreed to share the cab with another person. When the car reached Shimla Office Chowk in Shivajinagar around 2.15 am, the cab driver and the other passenger threatened and took away all his valuables, including Rs 6,100 and three gold rings and one gold chain, all valued at around Rs 1.42 lakh. The crime took place at one of the busiest places in the city.

TEJAS GAIKWAD

EDITOR

LETTERS TO THE

BY YOGESH WAGH @YogeshWagh1857

Varad Phatak IT professional For kids born in the 90’s, Pokemon had been a major part of them while growing up. Be it to stop a cricket match to go watch the episode, or go to the general stores to buy a pack of chips to get tazos, it has been huge since we were young. And now since we can relive the same excitement again, people of all ages are most definitely are going crazy.

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY

Pune’s safe city tag take a beating

In a country like India, where cricket rules the roost, all other sports are left well behind. Football, one of the relatively popular ones, usually focuses on boys.

Without adequate coaching, the girls have nowhere to “Social go.work This academy started by is an emotionally demanding profession, suggesting that particular attention should be given by social work employers Rocky Arokiaswamy and Agnell Pillay in to the workplace environment and social worker support.”

— Laura Biggart, Lecturer, University of East Anglia Pune, is not only training girls, but has

Sahil godbole Student It is like reliving my childhood again. I always had the urge to be involved in Pokémon activities since I was a kid. Now that we are technologically advanced and have everything at our finger tips, the newly launched application is the market showstopper. In my view, I consider it as a fitness application, as we need to go places to catch Pokemon rather I cycle or I walk. Keeps me happy, keeps me curious and off course keeps me fit. After all gotta Catch’em all, Pokémon!

Who says you have to go to Thailand to try out their lip-smacking food? JW Marriott Pune is bringing to you, much closer to home, a treat of delectable, aromatic and authentic specialties from the Asian country that we all love. This Festival will serve specially selected flavorsome delicacies of Thailand such as Pad Thai, Gaeng Daeng, Khao Pad, Tom Yam, famous Thai curries and many more to suffice the cravings of the patrons.

When: Till July 31 Where: JW Marriott Pune, Senapati Bapat

There’s nothing quite fulfilling than creating something with your own hands. So let your kids’ creative ideas run wild as they learn, explore art and craft at The HomeSukh. The workshop will enable young brigade to learn something new and probably discover a fantastic hobby through one-on-one experience with trained artists who will help them demystify

IRANIAN FRINGE FILM FESTIVAL

Football coaching for girls, free of cost

Niantic’s new mobile gaming app, Pokemon Go has taken the world by storm. Although it isn’t officially available for download in India, that hasn’t stopped true fans from starting the quest to Catch ‘em all! We ask Puneites what it is about the augmented reality game that has made it this popular in such a short period

A TREAT OF AUTHENTIC THAI FOOD

VISHAL KALE AND RAHUL RAUT

THE THALLAIVVA BBQ

VOX POPULI

few fascinating tips and tricks. While your child will be discovering new art, The HomeSukh has also organized host of engaging activities for ladies which include exciting game shows like candles and matches, funny tongue twisters, say color not words and many more.

When: July 17 Where: The Home Sukh, Ishanya, Yerawada

ART AND CRAFT WORKSHOP FOR KIDS

PUNE

Fight food waste, eat more Food Dosti app rewards customers for ‘clean’ plates at food joints TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly Demanding workplace and hectic lifestyle encouraging people to eat outside has led to opening of food joints at every street corner. And one of the consequences of this urban change is food wastage, and it can occur anywhere in the food supply chain — production, processing, storage, transportation, and consumption.

Pune-based techno-social start-up SamvadSocial Technologies Private Limited claims to have conceived and developed India’s first comprehensive zero food wastage application suite ‘Food Dosti’.

SamvadSocial Technologies Founder-Director Sanjeev Neve, 45, said, “The free mobile application launched on July 8 will address food wastage. To encourage the habit of zero food wastage, this app will allow those who visit restaurants and eateries regularly to earn reward points for not wasting food they are served. We are basically covering three ‘food handlers’ — restaurants, non-profits and customers. Zero food wastage will reduce production cost for restaurant owners and surplus food available in the food joint is broadcasted using the app and connected to nonprofits so that they can upcycle it to the needy.

So, this online platform connects restaurants, non-profits and customers to contribute towards a greater cause.”

Food Dosti’s useful features include ‘portion saver’ where customers have the facility of ordering only half a dish at a restaurant that uses this app. The app aims to bring about a change in customer’s food habits, by incentivising zero food wastage.

The app launch by SamvadSocial Technologies is an extension of their ongoing awareness campaign for zero food wastage cause through their collaborative platform ‘My Indian Dream’. “We invite, share and work on visions, thoughts and ideas through our platform ‘My Indian Dream (www.myindiandream.in)’ to identify those tangible ideas that can be implemented collaboratively to help address common issues in daily life,” Neve said, adding that their fi rm’s objective is to utilise the outreach of social networks and apps productively for a common benefit.

“I prefer to call the apps that we develop and deploy as ‘Socially Useful Social Applications’ (SUSA) as it for a social cause,” Neve said, who decided to start the venture after working in the processing sector of IT industry for over 20 years. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

app Food Dosti is a great idea to combat the repercussions of this problem. By encouraging and rewarding people who do not waste food in restaurants, it will push more and more people to order less and finish everything on their plate. The feature which allows a customer to order a half portion should be very helpful, considering some people’s small appetites and the large portions served at some restaurants.

- Poorva Shah Sanjeev Neve (left) and his team; (inset) Food Dosti app

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Letters to the Editor may be emailed to editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com, yogesh.sadhwani@goldensparrow.com or mail it to The Editor, Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt Ltd, 1641 Madhav Heritage, Tilak Road, Pune-411030.

SPORTS

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JULY 16, 2016

PUNE

“ I was afraid when I saw Messi and the others before my first Barcelona game. It was almost as if I was playing on the Playstation. It was very difficult in the beginning, — Neymar, Brazilian Superstar

The UBA show goes on despite threats The Basketball Federation of India bars players and officials to represent in the league

Signposts Tamhankar wins rapid chess tourney The weekly MJ’s Trophy Every Sunday championship got a totally new champion for its 13th edition. Surpassing the favorites Aniruddha Deshpande and Sankarsh Shelke, it was Siddhant Tamhankar who annexed the title with comfortable ease and sufficient margin. He scored 7 wins and settled for one draw.

SKF to send girls’ team to Sweden SKF Sports Education Programme announced that their boys’ and girls’ team from the programme will participate in Gothia Cup, the world’s largest youth football tournament scheduled in Gothenburg, Sweden from July 17. The children will represent SKF India at the tournament in the under-12 category.

Michelle gets Guinness approval

Gandhali , Sandhya in line for double Gandhali Sopal and Sandhya Malasheemi both of KPIT placed themselves in line for a double crown reaching the finals of the singles and doubles event at the 2nd edition of Suhana–Lakshya Corporate Ladies Badminton Championship at Modern Complex.

The UBA Pro Basketball League has been a popular event since it was launched last year. After two successful seasons, the league launched into a glittering third season at Shiv Chhatrapati sports complex in Balewadi on Friday.

Interestingly, they are doing this show despite opposition from the Basketball Federation of India, which has decided to bar players or staff associated with the UBA from representing India. The association circular, issued on June 26, says that all BFI Units must ensure that their players or officials do not participate in tournaments not recognised by FIBA. It means all 120 players and around 20-25 top coaches and officials will be ruled out from representing the country.

However, the UBA officials are hopeful that the association won’t take harsh steps that will harm the future of their players.

“We are here to promote basketball.

In the last two seasons, the UBA provided a good platform for Indian youngsters to

showcase their talent at this huge event.

They have been trained by quality coaches and the franchisees are providing them every support to raise the standard of the game. Th is is going to help Indian basketball, as they are the future of India.

We sincerely wish that association should find a solution,” said Michael Yanke, chief marketing officer of UBA. Echoing his point, UBA director Vivek Mehta said, “Currently the battle between the two factions is under court jurisdiction. Therefore, we approached K Govind Raj and Poonam Mahajan, the leaders of the warring factions, as we don’t want to interfere with the politics. We just want to host a quality tournament.”

Interestingly, most of the players from the current India squad, including skipper Amritpal Singh, Vinay Kaushik, Guruvinder Singh Gill and Narender Garewal are part of the league. According to some experts, the BFI won’t be able to ban the players as they won’t have a team to represent India, if they do so.

Meanwhile, UBA had left no stone unturned to make this event a success.

‘The hardest phase of our life is over’

“We have acquired the best court, which will be used fi rst time in India.

Actually such courts are used for NBA All-star festivities in Toronto. Secondly, we have partnered with Evo 1 sports, who have designed a quality ball exclusively for UBA. The ball has received good reviews from professional players in USA and would be a preferred choice for Indian players too,” said Yanke.

The fi rst season of the league was held in February in Pune, followed by second leg of the season in Hyderabad. Th is time too, the fi rst leg is underway at Balewadi and play-off matches will be held from July 24.

There are eight teams in total divided into two divisions: Pune Peshwas, Delhi Capitals, Haryana Gold, Punjab Steelers (North division) and Chennai Slam, Mumbai Challengers, Bengaluru Beast and Hyderabad Sky (South division).

Chennai Slam won the inaugural season last year with Pune Peshwas finishing second. ashish.phadnis@goldensparrow.com

Schedule • • • • • • •

July 16: Mumbai Challengers vs Haryana Gold; Pune Peshwas vs Chennai Slam July 17: Hyderabad Sky vs Punjab Steelers; Bengaluru Beast vs Delhi Capitals July 18: Mumbai Challengers vs Pune Peshwas; Chennai Slam vs Haryana Gold July 19: Punjab Steelers vs Mumbai Challengers; Haryana Gold vs Delhi Capitals July 21: Chennai Slam vs Hyderabad Sky; Pune Peshwas vs Bengaluru Beast July 22: Punjab Steelers vs Haryana Gold; Mumbai Challengers vs Delhi Capitals July 23: Bengaluru Beast vs Chennai Slam; Hyderabad Sky vs Pune Peshwas

TALK TO PUNE, MEET. CHEER. GREET

GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT. ENGAGE. ENTERTAIN

Says Prarthana Thombare’s father Gulabrao, who sold his land, faced criticism from relatives to train her TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly For 22-year-old Prarthana Thombare, it has been a long journey from Barshi, a small village near Solapur to Rio in Brazil. She spent hours on courts in scorching heat, chilly mornings, underwent high intensity training, prepared herself mentally to accept defeat and to come back strongly. Her efforts and dedication earned her a place in a Rio-bound fl ight.

However, it was her family that should get the equal credit for her success. Her father Gulabrao Thombare, who was a government employee, left his job, sold his land to bear the expenses, faced severe criticism from friends and relatives, eventually had to cut them out from their lives and provided the best support for their daughter.

“It was a hard phase of our lives.

The people around were expecting that we would educate our daughters and then marry them to some wealthy family. However, instead of that typical lifestyle, when we decided to support her to continue tennis, they criticized us. We eventually moved out of Barshi and had to cut them out of our lives,” he said.

Having represented India in the U-14, U-16, U-18 and U-21 categories, Prarthana’s rise to the top of the

women’s game is the result of this dedication and story doesn’t end here.

Gulabrao quit his job, when Prarthana decided to shift to Hyderabad to join Sania Mirza Academy.

“I needed to be with her because, she was just a kid,” said Gulabrao.

Th is decision turned out to be best for the youngster as she got training from Sania’s father Imran and they literally adopted her to their family.

“Sania’s forehand is considered as strongest and Imran sir taught Prarthana the same technique, resulting into tremendous improvement in her game. She started playing aggressively and in last couple of years she has won over 12 titles,” added her father.

Prarthana is being supported

by Pune-based NGO Lakshya and recently she got an officer Grade A job in Indian Oil in Pune. Though, it reduced the fi nancial burden on Thombares’, they say it’s not enough to manage expenses.

“To reach at the top, you need a specialized team of physio, nutritionist, trainer and everything.

We are way behind in this context.

But, as we are planning to get her into top-100 in next couple of years, we are slowly building our team,” said Gulabrao, who currently looks after all management issues for Prarthana. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

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21ST AUGUST 2016, SUNDAY

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Pune’s Michelle Kakade made her way into the Guiness Book of World Records as they acknowledged her as the first individual to complete Indian Golden Quadrilateral on foot. Kakade received the acknowledgement and her certificate from the Guiness Book after strict verification of her run she did recently.

BY ASHISH PHADNIS @phadnis_ashish

“Understanding a bowler’s psyche is a challenge and it is difficult for a batter to understand that. Someone like Anil Kumble understands how the situation is and conditions are.”

— R Ashwin, India Off-spinner

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